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mounted these difficulties. This appeared by the most memorable event, in point of felicity, that ever happened through the whole course of affairs in our time. For when the Spanish Armada entered our seas, to the terror of all Europe, and with such assurance of victory, they took not a single boat of ours, nor burnt the least cottage, nor touched our shore; but were defeated in the engagement, dispersed by a miserable flight, and frequent wrecks; and so left us at home in the enjoyment of an undisturbed peace.

Nor was she less happy in disappointing conspiracies than in subduing the forces of her open enemies. For several plots against her life were fortunately discovered, and defeated. And yet upon this account she was not the more fearful or anxious of her person; for she neither doubted of her guards, nor confined herself to her palace, but appeared in public as usual; remembering her deliverance, but forgetting her danger.

The nature of the times wherein she flourished must also be considered: for some ages are so barbarous and ignorant, that men may be as easily governed as sheep. But this princess lived in a learned and polite age; when it was impossible to be eminent without great parts, and a singular habit of virtue.

Again, female reigns are usually eclipsed by marriage; and all the praises thus transferred upon the husband; whilst those who live single appropriate the whole glory to themselves. And this is more peculiarly the case of Queen Elizabeth; because she had no supporters of her government, but those of her own making: she

had no brother, no uncle, nor any other of the royal family, to partake her cares, and share in her administration. And for those she advanced to places of trust, she kept such a tight rein upon them, and so distributed her favours, that she laid each of them under the greatest obligation and concern to please her; whilst she always remained mistress of herself.

She was indeed childless, and left no issue behind her; which has been the case of many fortunate princes; as of Alexander the Great, Julius Cæsar, Trajan, &c. and is a disputed point; some taking it for a diminution of felicity, as if men could not be completely happy, unless blessed both in their own persons, and in their children; and others accounting it the perfection of felicity; which then alone seems to be complete, when fortune has no more power over it: which, if children are left behind, can never be the case.

She had likewise her outward embellishments; a tall stature, a graceful shape and make, a most majestic aspect, mixed with sweetness, and a happy state of health. Besides all this, she was strong and vigorous to the last; never experienced a reverse of fortune, nor felt the miseries. of old age; and obtained that complacency in death, which Augustus Cæsar so passionately desired, by a gentle and easy exit. This is also recorded of that excellent Emperor Antoninus Pius; whose death resembled a sweet and gentle slumber. So likewise in the distemper of the queen, there was nothing shocking, nothing presaging, nothing unbecoming of human nature.

She was not desirous of life, nor impatient under sickness, nor racked with pain. She had no dire or disagreeable symptom; but all things were of that kind, as argued rather the frailty than the corruption or disgrace of nature. Being emaciated by an extreme dryness of body, and the cares that attend a crown, and never refreshed with wine, or with a full and plentiful diet, she was, a few days before her death, struck with a dead palsy; yet, what is unusual in that distemper, retained, in some degree, her speech, memory, and motion. In this condition she continued but a little while; so that it did not seem the last act of her life, but the first step to her death. For to live long after our faculties are impaired is accounted miserable; but for death to hasten on with a gradual loss of the senses, is a gentle, a pleasing, and easy dissolution.

To fill up the measure of her felicity, she was exceeding happy, not only in her own person, but also in the abilities and virtues of her ministers of state. For she had the fortune to meet with such, as perhaps this island never produced at one time. But God, when he favours princes, raises up and adorns the spirits of their ministers also.

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There remain two posthumous felicities, which may seem more noble and august than those that attended her living; the one is that of her successor, who though he may exceed and eclipse her greatness, by his masculine virtues, his issue and a new accession of empire; yet is zealous of her name and glory; and gives a kind of perpetuity to her acts; having made little change

either in the choice of ministers or the method of government: so that a son rarely succeeds a father with less alteration or disturbance.

As for her memory, it is so much in the mouths, and so fresh in the minds of men, that envy being extinguished, and her fame lit up by death, the felicity of her memory seems to vie with the felicity of her life. For if through party zeal, or difference in religion, a factious report be spread abroad; it is neither true, nor can be long lived. And for this reason in particular, I have made the present collection of her felicities, and the marks of the divine favour towards her; that no malicious person might dare to curse, where God has so highly blessed.

If it should be here objected, as Cicero objected to Cæsar, "We have matter enough to admire, but would gladly see something to praise ;" I answer that true admiration is a superlative degree of praise. Nor could that felicity above described be the portion of any, but such as are remarkably supported and indulged by the divine favour; and, in some measure, worked it out by their own morals and virtues. I shall, however, add a word or two as to the morals of the queen; but only in such particulars as have occasioned some malicious tongues to traduce her.

As to her religion, she was pious, moderate, constant, and an enemy to novelty. And for her piety, though the marks of it are conspicuous in her acts and administrations; yet there were visible marks of it both in the course of her life, and her ordinary conversation. She was seldom absent from divine service, and other duties of

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religion, either in her chapel or closet. She was very conversant in the Scriptures, and writings of the fathers, especially St. Augustine. Herself composed certain prayers upon some emergent occasions. When she mentioned the name of God, though in ordinary discourse, she generally added the title of Creator; and composed both her eyes and countenance to some sort of humility and reverence; which I have myself often observed.

As to what some have given out, that she was altogether unmindful of mortality, so as not to bear the mention of old age or death; it is absolutely false for several years before her death, she would facetiously call herself "the old woman;" and discourse upon what kind of epitaph she liked; adding, that she was no lover of pompous titles; but only desired her name might be recorded in a line or two, which should briefly express "her name, her virginity, the time of her reign, the reformation of religion under it, and her preservation of peace." It is true, in the flower of her age, being importuned to declare her successor, she answered, "That she could by no means endure a shroud to be held before her eyes while she was living." And yet some years before her death, at a time when she was thoughtful, and probably meditating upon her mortality, one of her familiars mentioning in conversation, that several great offices and places in the state were kept vacant too long, she rose up and said, with more than ordinary warmth, "That she was sure her place would not be long vacant."

As to her moderation in religion, it may require

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