HE War with France being now A Queen Elizabeth 1562. January following, in the 5th Year of this Reign. Anno Regni 5, On the Day of their Meeting, the Queen, it feems, was again indifpofed (a); and therefore a- At Westminster. nother Writ of Prorogation was produced by the Lord Keeper and other Lords of the Council, and read, whereby this Parliament was prorogued only to the next Day, being the 12th of the fame Month. On that Day the Parliament began; and it may not be amifs to give the Form of the Queen's Proceffion to the Houfe (b). She rode that Morning from her Palace, in great State, to Westminster Abbey; accompany'd with all the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal. The Queen was clad in a Crimfon : VOL. IV. Velvet A (a) She was fomewhat fick of a Stych. Com. Four (b) Strype's Annals, p. 255. Sex Dewes's Journal, p. 58, &c for the whole, Queen Elizabeth. Velvet Robe, the Earl of Northumberland bearing 1562. the Sword before her; all the Heralds at Arms in their rich Mantles, Trumpets blowing, &c. The Bishops, twenty-two in Number, riding in their Robes of Scarlet lined, and Hoods down their Backs of Minever (c). The Queen lighted at our Lady of Grace's Chapel, and, with her noble and ftately Retinue, went in at the North Door of the Abbey, where he heard a Sermon preach'd by Dr Nowell, Dean of St Paul's; and then a Pfalm being fung, fhe and her honourable Company went out of the South Door, to the Parliament Chamber, and foon after to the House. The Lord Keeper's Speech, and other initial Ceremonies, are omitted in the Lords Journal, but are fupplied in Sir Symonds Dewes's. Who tells us, that the Queen being prefent, and the Houfes met, the Lord Keeper, Bacon, by her Command, opened the Caufe of the Summons in thefe Words: 6 My Lords and others of this honourable Affembly, Youd YOU fhall understand, that my moft dread. and Sovereign Lady the Queen's Majefty, here prefent, hath commanded me to declare the The Lord Keep-Occafion of this Affembly; which I am not able er's Speech at O- (but unmeet) to do, as it ought to be done, among pening the Seffuch a noble, wife and difcreet Company. Howfion. 'beit, knowing the Experience of her Majefty, bearing with fuch as do their good Wills, and your Honours Patience, in bearing with me in the like, afore this Time; it encourageth me the better herein, not doubting of the like at this prefent. Therefore, my Lords, the Occafion is, that neceflary Matters be provided for, propounded and fcanned, and after agreed upon and ended, which aftewards fhall remain and continue ; which Matters, in my Judgment, may well be divided into two Parts; one touching Religion, for the fetting forth of God's Honour and Glory; and the other concerning Policy, for the Common• wealth; (c) Beaver Skin. Minever, a Fr. G. Minuver, Minuvair, Pellis Muris cujufdam Pontici ad fuffulciendas Veftes hibernas expetita. Skinner's Etym, Dia. 1562. ' wealth ; as well for Provifion at home, as to pro- Queen Elizabeth. 'vide for the Foreign Enemy abroad: Which faid 'Matters of Religion, may again be divided into two Parts; for God's Caufe being fincerely weighed, confider'd and followed, bringeth forth C good Success in all Affairs; and being not fol'lowed, but neglected, and made light of, how can any Thing profper or take good Effect ? And the greater the Perfonages be which fo abuse 'the fame, the greater the Fault is, to the Damage of the whole Commonwealth; for all Men's Eyes "be fixed on those who be in Authority; for as 'the Head is, even fo is the Foot; and after the 'Superior followeth the Inferior.. For as God's Law itself is perfect, fo there is no Imperfection " therein, but that which cometh of ourselves, ' wherein I cannot excufe either the Spiritualty or Laity. For as the Preachers be not fo diligent in their Vocation of Preaching, as they ought to ' be, even fo we of the Laity be neither fo diligent in hearing, nor yet in doing, as we fhould be. And thirdly, fome of the Laity, in not giving • Credit unto it, as it ought for to be. For as all • in Authority ought to be credited, and their Do⚫ings taken in the beft Part, yet I would wish the • fame fhould continue no longer than they do • well. And where at this prefent there is great Want of Minifters, and fome of them that be, be much • infufficient; which, confidering the Time, are • to be born withall, not doubting the Circumfpec⚫tion of the Bishops, in well looking to the placing of fuch, which fhall be appointed hereafter; • and those which, be, and will not be reformed, to have sharp Punishment. For as heretofore the • Discipline of the Church hath not been good; and again, that the Minifters thereof have been flothful; even fo for Want of the fame hath fprung two Enormities: The firft is, that for lack thereof, every Man liveth as he will, without. Fear; and fecondly, many Ceremonies agreed upon, but the right Ornaments thereof are either A 2 • left |