grounded political and state reason should have prompted her to consider, that by thus setting the first example of such an utter degradation of royal dignity, she paved the way to revolutions in factious times, and prepared a scaffold to the most virtuous monarchs. Had she been married and had any children, this reflection would probably have occurred, and suggested to her a resolution far different from what she was persuaded to by all the arts used by her ministers, who, as they had every thing to fear from Mary's resentment in case she ever succeeded to the throne, neglected nothing to draw Elizabeth on the side of severity.

As to Mary's trial, it is no easy matter to determine whether its illegality, the irregularity of its proceedings, or the injustice of the sentence, were greatest and most flagrant; there is no need, however, to add any thing in that respect to the unanswerable arguments solemnly urged by Mary herself in her examination before the commissioners on their first sitting. But as these were points of law and procedure thoroughly submitted to the decision of the council, of the commissioners, and particularly of the five judges adjoined to them, Elizabeth is entitled to be acquitted from any participation in their decision, and to that monstrous sentence, the execution of which was nothing less than a wilful murder, the more criminal that forms of justice were employed to give some appearance of legality, to what was the offspring of ignorance, of fear, or rather of flagrant prevarication.

An awful period in the annals of England was now at hand. Philip II. had just received a new provocation from Elizabeth; Drake had destroyed a whole fleet of transports at Cadiz, laden with stores and ammunition; he had insulted Lisbon, ravaged the Spanish western coast, and taken a Caracca ship laden with treasure. Roused by so

many injuries, allured by views of ambition, and animated by a most ardent zeal for propagating the catholic religion, Philip resolved not only to invade but to conquer England: he had accordingly prepared an immense fleet, the most considerable that had ever appeared on the ocean; it consisted of one hundred and thirty large vessels, manned by eight thousand three hundred and fifty seamen, nineteen thousand two hundred and ninety soldiers, and two thousand and eighty galley slaves; two thousand three hundred and sixty large pieces of ordnance completed that formidable power which the Spaniards had haughtily christened The Invincible Armada. The prince of Parma had besides twentyfive thousand veteran troops quartered along the coast of Flanders, and ready to embark the moment that the Armada should appear, to protect their passage towards the banks of the Thames; and twelve thousand French troops encamped on the coast of Normandy, waited for that opportunity of crossing the Channel.

To oppose this tremendous array, the strength of England seemed fearfully inadequate. All the sailors in the kingdom did not amount to fifteen thousand; the royal navy consisted only of twentyeight sail, many of which were of small size totally unable to lay along side of the huge Spanish ships. The queen alone seemed undismayed in this threatening calamity. She issued all her orders with tranquillity, animated her people to a steady resistance, called forth the exertions of her loyal subjects, and was not disappointed in her expectations. London alone sent ten thousand men and thirty ships; other commercial towns followed this noble example. All the loans of money which the queen demanded were readily granted by the persons applied to. The nobility and gentry, among whom were several Roman catholics, and

even aliens, hired, armed, and manned forty-three ships at their own charge. Lord Howard of Effingham, a very able admiral, was entrusted with the command of the navy, and had under him Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, the most renowned seamen in Europe.

Ann. 1588.

Elizabeth assembles her best officers, and judiciously arranges with them the distribution of her forces. The principal fleet is stationed at Plymouth; a similar squadron consisting of forty ships, commanded by lord Seymour, second son of protector Somerset, is sent off Dunkirk to intercept the duke of Parma. An army of twenty thousand men is disposed in different bodies along the south coast; a body of twenty-two thousand foot and one thousand horse is stationed at Tilbury to defend the capital, under the command of the earl of Leicester, a very imprudent choice in such circumstances after the late conduct of this worthless favourite in Holland, from whence he had been recalled on account of his cowardice, greediness, and rapacity. The command of the principal army, consisting of thirty-four thousand foot and two thousand horse, is entrusted to lord Hunsdon, and reserved for guarding the queen's person, and to march whithersoever the enemy should appear.

In the mean time, the queen sent sir Robert Sidney to Scotland, in order to strengthen the king's fidelity to his engagements with her, by representing to him the danger which at present menaced his sovereignty as well as her own from the ambition of the Spanish monarch. The ambassador found James in the best dispositions, and preparing to march with the whole of his troops to the assist

ance of Elizabeth, notwithstanding the great offers by which Philip tempted him to join in an enterprize which he pretended to be chiefly meant to revenge the death of his injured mother.

The king of Denmark upon Elizabeth's application, seized a squadron of ships which Philip had bought or hired in the Danish harbours; the Hanse towns, though not at that time in good terms with her, were induced to retard so long the equipment of some vessels in their ports, that they became useless to the purpose of invading England.

The more to excite the martial spirit of the nation, the queen appeared on horseback in the camp at Tilbury, and riding through the ranks with a cheerful countenance, she elevated the loyalty of the soldiers to the highest degree of enthusiasm by her spirited speech to the army. She told them that she had been warned not to trust herself among armed multitudes for fear of treachery, but that she did not wish for life, if she must distrust her people. "Let tyrants fear," continued she; "I have always so conducted myself, that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. I am, therefore, come to you, being resolved in the middle and. heat of the battle to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God and my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust. I know that I have but the body of a weak woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince in Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm. I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, the judge of your valour, and the rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." &c. &c. &c.

Delusive negociations for peace had been opened at the beginning of the year, and intentionally pro

tracted on both sides for the only purpose of employing the interval in completing their warlike preparations. At last the Spanish Armada, full of alacrity, set sail from Lisbon May 29th, under the duke of Medina de Sidonia, who, on the decease of the marquis of Santa Cruz, had been appointed to command. But next day a violent tempest scattered the ships, sunk some of the smallest, and forced the rest to take shelter in the Groine, where they waited till they could be refitted. When this news was carried to England, the queen, presuming that the intended invasion was disappointed for this summer, and being always ready to lay hold of every pretence for saving money, sent orders to the admiral, directing him to lay up some of the larger ships, and to discharge the seamen. Lord Effingham, however, dared to disobey her orders, and begged leave to retain all the ships in service, though it should be at his own expence.

Meanwile all the damages of the Armada were repaired; and on the 19th of July the Spanish fleet was descried in the channel by a privateer, who immediately set sail to inform the English admiral of their approach. Effingham had just time to get out of port when he saw them coming full sail towards him disposed in the form of a crescent. He immediately dispatched expresses for assistance, and with his little fleet of about fifty vessels, he hung upon their rear, and supplying the want of force by address and activity, he delayed their progress until he had received reinforcements. His fleet now amounted to one hundred and forty ships, or rather barks, he skirmished with the Invincible Armada six days, cannonading them at a distance, and waiting the opportunity which winds, currents, or various accidents might afford him, of intercepting some scattered vessels of the enemy. Nor was it long before the event answered his expectation. A great