being, as his very original name purporteth, "the most beautiful and gorgeous of all others, "it afketh in reafon to be referved for a laft compliment, and difchiphred by the arte of a "ladies penne (herself being the most beautifull

or rather beautie of Queens). And this was "the occafion: Our Sovereign Lady perceiving "how the Queen of Scots refidence within this "realme at fo great libertie and ease (as were "scarce meete for fo great and dangerous a pri

foner) bred fecret factions amongst her people, "and made many of the nobility incline to favour "her partie (fome of them defirous of innovation "in the State, others afpiring to greater fortunes by her liberty and life); the Queene our Sove"reigne Lady, to declare that she was nothing ignorant of thofe fecret practices, (though fhe had long, with great wisdom and patience, dif"sembled it,) writeth that dittie, most sweet and "fententious; not hiding from all fuch aspiring "minds the danger of their ambition and dif

loyaltic, which afterwards fell out most truly by the exemplary chaftifements of fundry perfons, who, in favour of the faid Queen of Scots, declining from her Majeftie, fought to interrupt the quiet of the realm by many evil and "undutifull practyfes.

СС

"The

"The ditty is as followeth :

The doubt of future foes exiles my prefent joy,

And Wit me warns to fhun fuch fnares as threaten mine

annoy;

For falfehood now doth flowe, and subject faith doth ebbe, Which would not be, if reafon rul'd, or wisdom weav'd the

webbe.

But clouds of tois untried do cloake afpiring mindes,

Which turne to raigne of late repent by course of changed windes.

The toppe of hope fuppos'd, the root of ruth will be,

And fruitless all their graffed guiles, as shortly ye fhall fee. Then dazzled eyes with pride, which great ambition blindes, Shall be unfeel'd by worthy wights whofe forefight falsehood finds,

The daughter of debate, that eke discord doth fowe,

Shall reape no gaine, where former rule hath taught still peace

to growe,

No forreine banish'd wight shall ancre in this port;

Our realme it brooks no ftrangers' force, let them elsewhere refort.

Our rufty fword with reft fhall firft his edge employ,

To polle their toppes that feeke such change, and gape for joy.

"

"In a Prince," fays Puttenham," it is decent "to go flowly, and to march with leifure, and with a certain granditie, rather than gravitie; " as our Soveraine Lady and Miftreffe, (Queen Elizabeth,) the very image of majestic and magnificence, is accustomed to do generally, unless it be when the walketh apace for her pleasure, or to catch her a heate in the colde "mornings.

"

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"Nevertheless," adds Puttenham,

"it is not

"fo decent in a meaner perfon, as I have ob"ferved in fome counterfeit ladies of the country, "which use it much to their own derifion. This "comelinefs was wanting in Queen Marie, (of England,) otherwife a very good and honour"able Princeffe, and was fome blemish to the Emperor Ferdinando, a moft noble-minded man, yet fo careleffe and forgetfulle of himself in that behalf, as I have feen him runne up a pair of "ftairs fo fwift and nimble a pace, as almoft had "not become a very meane man, who had not

gone in fome haftie bufineffe. And in a noble "Prince, nothing is more decent and well-befeeming his greatneffe than to spare foul speeches, "for that bredes hatred, and to let none humble "fuitors depart out of their prefence (as near as "may be) difcontented."

Whilst the celebrated Spanish Armada hovered about the coast of England in 1588, Queen Elizabeth made the following fpeech to the officers and foldiers that compofed the camp at Tilbury, which may now be adverted to in the present pofture of affairs, when this country has to dread an invafion from the most infiduous and most formidable foe with which any country whatever, either from the fatality of human affairs, or from the wretched policy of its Governors, was threatened":

MY LOVING PEOPLE,

"We have been perfuaded by fome that are "careful of our fafety, to take heed how we "commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear "of treachery; but affure you, I do not defire "to live to diftruft my faithful and loving people. "Let tyrants fear; I have always fo behaved myself, that under God I have placed my "chiefeft ftrength and fafeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my fubjects. And "therefore I am come amongft you at this time, "not as for my recreation or sport, but being "refolved in the midft and heat of the battle to "live or die amongst you all, and to lay down, "for my God, and for my kingdom, and for

my people, my honour and my blood even in "the duft. I know I have but the body of a "weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart "of a King, and a King of England too; and "think foul fcorn that Parma or Spain, or any "Prince of Europe, fhould dare to invade the "borders of my realms; to which rather than "any difhonour should grow by me, I MYSELF will take up arms; I MYSELF will be your

General, Judge, and Rewarder of every one "of your virtues in the field. I know already by your forwardnefs that you have deserved "rewards and crowns; and we do affure you,

"on the word of a Prince, they fhall be duly "paid you. In the mean time, my Lieutenant"General shall be in my ftead; than whom never "Prince commanded more noble and worthy

fubject; not doubting by your obedience to my General, by your concord in the camp, and "your valour in the field, we fhall fhortly have a "famous victory over those enemies of my God, "of my kingdom, and of my people."

Her Majesty, five years afterwards, whilft the fame horrid calamity of war impended, thus fpiritedly addreffed her Parliament, April 10, 1593.

"This kingdom hath had many wife, noble, "victorious Princes: I will not compare with any "of them for wisdom, fortitude, or any other "virtues; but, faving the duty of a child, that is "not to compare with his father in love, care, fincerity, and justice, I will compare with any "Prince that ever you had, or shall have.

"It may be thought fimplicity in me, that all "this time of my reign I have not fought to ad"vance my territories, and enlarge my dominions, "for opportunity hath ferved me to do it. I ac

knowledge my womanhood and weakness in that t refpect; but though it hath not been hard to "obtain, yet I doubted how to keep the things fo "obtained; that hath only held me from fuch "attempts. And I muft fay, my mind was never

"to