messengers desiring the people to preserve so much silence that she might listen to the explanation. Truly they must have been a most orderly people, if even the royal request had much effect upon them in such circumstances. It is worthy of notice that much of this procession, although to us apparently so unmeaning, was really full of meaning to both queen and people. It was not, as most of such processions were, overladen with allusions to Grecian Mythology. No, in the pageant we may read the history of the mind of the people, we may read the history of their hopes and fears; they adopted this pageant as an opportunity to utter to the queen their wishes. Vulcan and Venus, Hercules and Hebe, Jupiter and Juno, figured frequently enough in other processions, but in this the figures were derived from another and far more serious school. Thus, in Cornhill was an emblem called the "seat of worthy governance:" there were eight emblematic devices, children in allegoric characters; these were Pure Religion treading on Superstition-Love of Subject streading upon Rebellion and Insolence—Wisdom treading upon Folly and Vain Glory; and Justice treading upon Adulation and Bribery.

At that time, upon Cornhill, stood the Great

and Little Conduit, by which water was conveyed from Tyburn to the city. Formerly upon this spot had stood a prison, called “The Tun ;" and in the times of Elizabeth there yet remained "a strong prison of timber," called "The Cage," with a pair of stocks and a pillory for bakers offending in the assize of bread. All this was now out of sight; and here was a scaffolding, surpassing any seen yet in magnificence. The queen enquired, before she reached it, what was there? She was told that there was placed "Time." 66 "Time," quoth she, "Time, and Time hath brought me hither!"

That was the Age of Allegory. Pictures are for children, and very appropriately so; for, in the first dawning of Intelligence, the eye is wiser than the ear; and so, in the dawn of the Intelligence of States and Nations, Truth has to be represented and painted to the vision, rather than expressed by continued argument. We shall see, by-and-bye, how this characteristic of the Age developed itself in the writings of Spenser and Sydney It was fully shewn in the whole course of this royal progress.— This pageant of the Little Conduit appears to have been the most various and interesting in the whole course of the procession, for there

the Bible was presented to her, let down into her car by a silken lace; and there amidst the Companies of the city, with banners and streamers flying around from all the windows and pent-houses, surrounded by the rich fur clad burgesses and aldermen of Old London, stood the Right Worshipful Master Ranulph Cholmely, the Recorder of the City, who gave into the hands of the Queen's Majesty a purse with a thousand marks, which "the queen took with both hands, and answered him again marvellous pithily." There was in this pageant another, which shows how clear were many of the ideas expressed in the pictured shows. There were represented two mountains, one craggy, barren, and stony, upon which appeared a tree stunted, and withered, and dead; and at the foot of it appeared a figure in rude apparel, mourning, over whose head was written, in Latin and English, "Ruinos a Respublica," a "Decayed Commonweal;" and all around the tree were placed tablets, indicating the causes of a nation's decay. On the other side was another hill, the ground of which was green, and full of flowers and beauty; and there was represented a tree also, fresh and vigorous, and fair; and a figure, fresh and well arrayed beneath it, bearing this inscription in Latin and

English, "Respublica bene instituta," "a flourishing Commonweal ;" and tables here also, shewing in what a Commonweal consisted; while from a door hidden between the hills advanced a venerable figure, representing Time leading one more youthful by the hand, clad in white, over whose head was inscribed "Temporis filia," "The Daughter of Time ;" and on her breast" Veritas," "Truth." She had in her hand a book, on which was written "Verbam Veritas," "The Word of Truth." This book again was given to the queen, who kissed it, and laid it to her breast. The limits of these pages will not allow us to notice all the various incidents of the pageant thus presented, as the monarch passed along from the city to Westminster,-what figures of Deborah, the mother and restorer of Israel; with occasional emblematic figures of Gog and Magog; of Alboin and Corineus; while through all, Elizabeth put forth all those graces and arts of popularity which never monarch knew better how to use than she. "Yonder is an ancient citizen," said one of the knights, "attending her person, which weepeth and turneth his face backward, now may it be interpreted that he doth so for sorrow or gladness." "I warrant you that it is for gladness," replied the queen.

Poor women thrust nosegays innumerable into her hands; she graciously accepted them all, and a bunch of rosemary, that was given to her by one poor woman on Fleet Bridge, was seen in her hand when she reached Westminster.

The next day, the 15th of January, 1558, with all the ceremonies usual to the occasion, the coronation took place. Of all the bishops in England, only one could be prevailed upon to perform the office-Owen Oglethorp, Bishop of Carlisle. The see of Canterbury was vacant. Michael Heath, the Archbishop of York, refused to perform the office; and each of the prelates, except the one we have instanced, followed his example. It was thought Elizabeth had already sufficiently indicated her hatred to the Church of Rome, both by proclamation, and by admitting to her counsel men who were known not to be good Catholics. The ceremony, however, was performed. From the palace the queen proceeded to the abbey.The streets were all new-gravelled, and laid with blue cloth, along which the procession passed; at the hall she was met by all the choristers, with the bishop, mitred, at their head. He had at first refused, with his brethren, to perform the service; but had, at