Majesty's sacred person; which nevertheless God's | cipal servants and counsellors; thinking, belike, that goodness hath used and turned, to show by such as the immediate invectives against her Majesty do miraculous discoveries into how near and precious best satisfy the malice of the foreigner, so the slancare and custody it hath pleased him to receive her der and calumniation of her principal counsellors Majesty's life and preservation. But in the other agreed best with the humours of some malecontents point it is strange what a number of libellous and within the realm; imagining also, that it was like defamatory books and writings, and in what variety, they should be more scattered here, and freelier diswith what art and cunning handled, have been persed; and also should be less odious to those allowed to pass through the world in all languages foreigners which were not merely partial and pasagainst her Majesty and her government; sometimes sionate, who have for the most part in detestation pretending the gravity and authority of church the traitorous libellings of subjects directly against stories to move belief; sometimes formed into re- their natural prince. monstrances and advertisements of estate to move Amongst the rest in this kind, there hath been regard; sometimes presented as it were in tragedies published this present year of 1592, a libel that of the persecutions of catholics to move pity; some- that giveth place to none of the rest in malice and times contrived into pleasant pasquils and satires to untruths; though inferior to most of them in penmove sport: so as there is no shape whereinto these ning and style; the author having chosen the vein fellows have not transformed themselves; nor no of a Lucianist, and yet being a counterfeit even in humour nor affection in the mind of man to which that kind. This libel is entitled, "A declaration of they have not applied themselves; thereby to in- the true causes of the great troubles presupposed to sinuate their untruths and abuses to the world. And be intended against the realm of England;" and indeed let a man look into them, and he shall find hath a semblance as if it were bent against the dothem the only triumphant lies that ever were con- ings of her Majesty's ancient and worthy counsellor futed by circumstances of time and place; confuted the lord Burleigh; whose carefulness and pains her by contrariety in themselves, confuted by the witness Majesty hath used in her counsels and actions of of infinite persons that live yet and have had parthis realm for these thirty-four years space, in all ticular knowledge of the matters; but yet avouched dangerous times, and amidst many and mighty pracwith such asseveration, as if either they were fallen tices; and with such success, as our enemies are put into that strange disease of the mind, which a still to their paper-shot of such libels as these; the wise writer describeth in these words, " fingunt si- memory of whom will remain in this land, when all mul creduntque;' or as if they had received it as these libels shall be extinct and forgotten; according a principal precept and ordinance of their seminaries, to the Scripture, "Memoria justi cum laudibus, at "audacter calumniari, semper aliquid hæret ;" or impiorum nomen putrescet." But it is more than as if they were of the race which in old time were evident, by the parts of the same book, that the wont to help themselves with miraculous lies. But author's malice was to her Majesty and her governwhen the cause of this is entered into, namely, that ment, as may especially appear in this, that he there passeth over out of this realm a number of charged not his lordship with any particular actions eager and unquiet scholars, whom their own turbulent of his private life, such power had truth, whereas and humorous nature presseth out to seek their the libels made against other counsellors have prinadventures abroad; and that, on the other side, they cipally insisted upon that part: but hath only are nourished rather in listening after news and in- wrested and detorted such actions of state, as in telligences, and in whisperings, than in any com- times of his service have been managed; and demendable learning; and after a time, when either praving them, hath ascribed and imputed to him the their necessitous estate or their ambitious appetites effects that have followed; indeed to the good of importune them, they fall on devising how to do the realm, and the honour of her Majesty, though some acceptable service to that side which main- sometimes to the provoking of the malice, but abridgtaineth them; so as ever when their credit waxething of the power and means of desperate and incorcold with foreign princes, or that their pensions are rigible subjects. ill paid, or some preferment is in sight at which they level, straightways out cometh a libel, pretending thereby to keep in life the party, which within the realm is contrary to the state, wherein they are as wise as he that thinketh to kindle a fire by blow-❘ ing the dead ashes; when, I say, a man looketh into the cause and ground of this plentiful yield of libels, he will cease to marvel, considering the concurrence which is, as well in the nature of the seed as in the travail of tilling and dressing; yea, and in the fitness of the season for the bringing up of those infectious weeds.

But to verify the saying of our Saviour, “non est discipulus super magistrum;" as they have sought to deprave her Majesty's government in herself, so have they not forgotten to do the same in her prin

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All which slanders, as his lordship might justly despise, both for their manifest untruths, and for the baseness and obscurity of the author; so nevertheless, according to the moderation which his lordship useth in all things, never claiming the privilege of his authority, when it is question of satisfying the world, he hath been content that they be not passed over altogether in silence; whereupon I have, in particular duty to his lordship, amongst others that do honour and love his lordship, and that have diligently observed his actions, and in zeal of truth, collected, upon the reading of the said libel, certain observations, not in form of a just answer, lest I should fall into the error whereof Solomon speaketh thus, " Answer not a fool in his own kind lest thou also be like him;" but only to discover the

malice, and to reprove and convict the untruths | subjects of England believe of great preparations thereof. abroad, and in great readiness to be put in act, and The points that I have observed upon the reading so to deceive on both sides: and this I take to be his of this libel, are these following:

I. Of the scope or drift of the libeller.

II. Of the present estate of this realm of England, whether it may be truly avouched to be prosperous or afflicted.

III. Of the proceedings against the pretended catholics, whether they have been violent or moderate, and necessary.

IV. Of the disturbance of the quiet of christendom, and to what causes it may be justly imputed. V. Of the cunning of the libeller, in palliation of his malicious invective against her Majesty and the state, with pretence of taxing only the actions of the lord Burleigh.

principal drift. So again, it is an extravagant and incredible conceit, to imagine that all the conclusions and actions of estate which have passed during her Majesty's reign, should be ascribed to one counsellor alone; and to such an one as was never noted for an imperious or over-ruling man; and to say, that though he carried them not by violence, yet he compassed them by device, there is no man of judgment that looketh into the nature of these times, but will easily descry that the wits of these days are too much refined for any man to walk invisible, or to make all the world his instruments; and therefore, no not in this point assuredly, the libeller spake as he thought; but this he foresaw, that the imputation of cunning doth breed suspicion, and the impu

VI. Certain true general notes upon the actions tation of greatness and sway doth breed envy; and of the lord Burleigh.

VII. Of divers particular untruths and abuses dispersed through the libel.

VIII. Of the height of impudency that these men are grown unto, in publishing and avouching untruths; with a particular recital of some of them for an essay.

I. Of the scope or drift of the libeller.

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therefore finding where he was most wrong, and by whose policy and experience their plots were most crossed, the mark he shot at was to see whether he could heave at his lordship's authority, by making him suspected to the queen, or generally odious to the realm; knowing well enough for the one point, that there are not only jealousies, but certain revolutions in princes' minds: so that it is a rare virtue in the rarest princes to continue constant to the end in their favours and employments. And knowing for the other point, that envy ever accompanieth greatness, though never so well deserved; and that his lordship hath always marched a round and a real course in service; and as he hath not moved envy by pomp and ostentation, so hath he never extinguished it by any popular or insinuative carriage of himself: and this no doubt was his second drift.

A third drift was, to assay if he could supplant and weaken, by this violent kind of libelling, and turning the whole imputation upon his lordship, his resolution and courage; and to make him proceed more cautelously, and not so throughly and strongly against them; knowing his lordship to be a politic man, and one that hath a great stake to lose.

It is good advice, in dealing with cautelous and malicious persons, whose speech is ever at distance with their meanings, non quid dixerint, sed quo spectarint, videndum :" a man is not to regard what they affirm, or what they hold; but what they would convey under their pretended discovery, and what turn they would serve. It soundeth strangely in the ears of an Englishman, that the miseries of the present state of England exceed them of former times whatsoever. One would straightway think with himself, doth this man believe what he saith? Or, not believing it, doth he think it possible to make us believe it? Surely, in my conceit, neither of both; but his end, no doubt, was to round the pope and the king of Spain in the ear, by seeming to tell a tale to the people of England. For such books are Lastly, lest, while I discover the cunning and art ever wont to be translated into divers languages; of this fellow, I should make him wiser than he was, and, no doubt, the man was not so simple as to I think a great part of this book was passion; think he could persuade the people of England the "difficile est tacere, cum doleas." The humours of contrary of what they taste and feel. But he thought these men being of themselves eager and fierce, he might better abuse the states abroad, if he direct-have, by the abort and blasting of their hopes, been ed his speech to them who could best convict him, and disprove him if he said untrue; so that as Livy saith in the like case, "Ætolos magis, coram quibus verba facerent, quam ad quos, pensi habere;" that the Etolians, in their tale, did more respect those who did overhear them, than those to whom they directed their speech: so in this matter this fellow cared not to be counted a liar by all English upon price of deceiving of Spain and Italy; for it must be understood, that it hath been the general practice of this kind of men many years, of the one side, to abuse the foreign estates, by making them believe that all is out of joint and ruinous here in England, and that there is great part ready to join with the invader; and on the other side, to make the evil

blinded and enraged. And surely this book is, of all that sort that have been written, of the meanest workmanship; being fraughted with sundry base scoffs, and cold amplifications, and other characters of despite; but void of all judgment or ornament.

II. Of the present estate of this realm of England, whether it may be truly avouched to be prosperous or afflicted.

The benefits of Almighty God upon this land, since the time that in his singular providence he led as it were by the hand, and placed in the kingdom, his servant our queen Elizabeth, are such, as not in boasting, or in confidence of ourselves, but in praise of his holy name, are worthy to be both considered

and confessed, yea, and registered in perpetual | that worthy king to have advanced in such forwardmemory: notwithstanding, I mean not after the manner of a panegyric to extol the present time: it shall suffice only that those men, that through the gall and bitterness of their own heart have lost their taste and judgment, and would deprive God of his glory, and us of our senses, in affirming our condition to be miserable, and full of tokens of the wrath and indignation of God, be reproved.

If then it be true, that "nemo est miser, aut felix, nisi comparatus ;" whether we shall, keeping ourselves within the compass of our own island, look into the memories of times past, or at this present time take a view of other states abroad in Europe, we shall find that we need not give place to the happiness either of ancestors or neighbours. For if a man weigh well all the parts of state and religion, laws, administration of justice, policy of government, manners, civility, learning and liberal sciences, industry and manual arts, arms and provisions of wars, for sea and land, treasure, traffic, improvement of the soil, population, honour, and reputation, it will appear that, taking one part with another, the state of this nation was never more flourishing.

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ness the conquest of that nation. And for king
Edward III. his reign was visited with much sick-
ness and mortality; so as they reckoned in his days
three several mortalities; one in the 22nd year,
another in the 35th year, and the last in the 43rd
year of his reign; and being otherwise victorious
and in prosperity, was by that only cross more
afflicted, than he was by the other prosperities com-
forted. Besides, he entered hardly; and again,
according to the verse "cedebant ultima primis,"
his latter times were not so prosperous.
And for
king Henry V, as his success was wonderful, so he
wanted continuance; being extinguished after ten
years' reign in the prime of his fortunes.

Now for her Majesty, we will first 1. Continuance. speak of the blessing of continuance, as

that which wanted in the happiest of these kings; and is not only a great favour of God unto the prince, but also a singular benefit unto the people; for that sentence of the Scripture," misera natio cum multi sunt principes ejus," is interpreted not only to extend to divisions and distractions in government, but also to frequent changes in succession: considering, that the change of a prince bringeth in many charges, which are harsh and unpleasant to a great part of the subjects. It appeareth then, that of the line of five hundred and fourscore years, and more, containing the number of twenty-two kings, God hath already prolonged her Majesty's reign to exceed sixteen of the said two and twenty; and by the end of this present year, which God prosper, she shall attain to be equal with two more: during which time there have deceased four emperors, as many French kings, twice so many bishops of Rome. Yea, every state in christendom, except Spain, have received sundry successions. And for the king of Spain, he is waxed so infirm, and thereby so retired, as the report of his death serveth for every year's news: whereas her Majesty, thanks be given to God, being nothing decayed in vigour of health and strength, was never more able to supply and sustain the weight of her affairs, and is, as far as standeth with the dignity of her Majesty's royal state, continually to be seen, to the great comfort and heartease of her people.

It is easy to call to remembrance, out of histories, the kings of England which have in more ancient times enjoyed greatest happiness; besides her Majesty's father and grandfather, that reigned in rare felicity, as is fresh in memory. They have been king Henry I. king Henry II. king Henry III. king Edward I. king Edward III. king Henry V. All which have been princes of royal virtue, great felicity, and famous memory. But it may be truly affirmed, without derogation to any of these worthy princes, that whatsoever we find in libels, there is not to be found in the English chronicles, a king that hath, in all respects laid together, reigned with such felicity as her Majesty hath done. For as for the first three Henries, the first came in too soon after a conquest; the second too soon after an usurpation; and the third too soon after a league, or barons' war, to reign with security and contentation. King Henry I. also had unnatural wars with his brother Robert, wherein much nobility was consumed: he had therewithal tedious wars in Wales; and was not without some other seditions and troubles; as namely, the great contestation of his prelates. King Henry II. his happiness was much deformed by the revolt of his son Henry, after he had associated him, and of his other sons. King Henry III. besides his continual wars in Wales, was after forty-second place in happiness, which is one of the great four years' reign unquieted with intricate commotions of his barons; as may appear by the mad parliament held at Oxford, and the acts thereupon ensuing. His son Edward I. had a more flourishing time than any of the other; came to his kingdom at ripe years and with great reputation, after his voyage into the Holy Land, and was much loved and obeyed, contrived his wars with great judgment: first having reclaimed Wales to a settled allegiance, and being upon the point of uniting Scotland. But yet I suppose it was more honour for her Majesty to have so important a piece of Scotland in her hand, and the same with such justice to render up, than it was for

2. Health.

Secondly, we will mention the blessing of health: I mean generally of the people, which was wanting in the reign of another of these kings; which else deserved to have the

favours of God towards any nation. For as there be three scourges of God, war, famine, and pestilence; so are there three benedictions, peace, plenty, and health. Whereas, therefore, this realm hath been visited in times past with sundry kinds of mortalities, as pestilences, sweats, and other contagious diseases, it is so, that in her Majesty's times, being of the continuance aforesaid, there was only, towards the beginning of her reign, some sickness, between June and February, in the city; but not dispersed into any other part of the realm, as was noted; which we call yet the great plague; because that though it was nothing so grievous and so sweeping