pularity, acting to the life the pageant of the people, (which all princes really are, and the wisest the most gaudy,) from whence it is farre more indeering to throw flowers then wild-fire. And if this her affability did not work upon the will, the greatnesse of their expence did not faile to render them lesse able to hurt: And in case this was not sufficient to moderate their ambitious thirst after popularity, she found them diversions in forraigne imployments, whither they were sent enibassadours or agents, by which their estates were gelt, and the owners rendered the lesse rampant, and unable to maintaine their former bewitching humour of hospitality; so, as in parliaments, they became assertors of the profit of the crowne, in hope to have such debts refunded as had beene contracted by themselves in the service of the state; whose honour she preserved at the lowest expence that ever prince did, and not seldom at their charge, who might otherwise have imployed their revenues in fomenting sedition.

16. The parliament, knowing not where to fix upon a successour to the crowne without the hazard of religion, or danger of a civill warre, the regent' of Scotland having yet no child, and being too strongly supported from France to miscarry under a title so firmely built as the catholicks maintained hers was to this nation, (if not in pre. sent,) upon the death of the queene, did, in the first petition they made, invite her majesty to take a husband: in which they minded more their future then present felicity, not so likely to result from a married as a single prince, whose expense cannot choose but swell proportionable to the offspring produced. And in this they were so moderate, as to passe by all mention of a successour, ever ungratefull to her eares during the whole series of her raigne, and not seldome fatall to such as were so hardy as to move it: So, as it cost some dearer,

1 Queen Mary of Scotland, then married to the Dauphin of France.

and Pigot and Wentworth their liberty, though they proposed it in parliament; the safety she her selfe found in the concealing her intent, out-voting the danger of a civill warre, which, in all humane reason, could not but impend the nation, in case of her death: For, whilest she observed this impartiall neutrality, none could pretend cause of complaint. And in case any one had made ostentation of a title before the people, she had the rest ready to asperse it; there remaining none free from objections, the most legitimate in appearance passing for an alien, and so uncapable, or an enemy, and so incompetent to governe: It being as impossible to please as dangerous to oppose the weakest interest of the papist, puritan, or protestant. But to this request of her great counsell, (which she could not hinder, being the desire of the court, as well as the sense of the parliament,) she returned a stout, though but an uncertaine answer, as is legible in the common chronicles, whose recitalls I professe wilfully to

shunne, feeding my pen rather with such scraps as I have picked out of letters and discourse, the store house of tradition. Not so likely to flatter, if to lye, as the writings of those meane contemporaries, that for the most part have imbarked their pens in our English affaires; who had still some feare or hope at their elbowes ready to jog them towards the interest of the present or future governours: Confessed, by learned Cambden himselfe, whose lines were directed by King James, and he lead rather to vindicate the honour and integrity of his mother, then to do right for a mistris, that had from a school-master raised him to a capacity of being the first king at armes.

17. Her sex did beare out many impertinences in her words and actions, as her making Latine speeches in the universities,'

* Specimens of her majesty's Latin oratory, delivered to the universities, may be found in PECK'S Desiderata Curiosa, vol. ii. p. 271, and 277. On both occasions, she affected a repugnance to speak in public, which was of course earnestly combated and subdued by the attendant courtiers, who besought her, on their knees, "to

and professing her selfe in publique a muse, then thought something too theatricall for a virgine prince, but especially in her treaties relating to marriage; towards which, some thought her uncapable by nature, others too propense, as may be found in the black relations of the jesuites, and some French and Spanish pasquilers, that pretend to be more learned in the art of inspection, then wise Henry the Fourth their king, who, in a joviall humour, told a Scotish marques, there were three things inscrutable to intelligence, 1. Whether Maurice, then Prince of Orange, (who never fought battaile, as he said,) was valiant in his person. 2. What religion himself was of. 3. Whether Queene Elizabeth was a maid or no: which may render all reports dubious that come from

speak somewhat to the university, and in Latin." An instance of her ready wit occurs, p. 276. As Dr Humphreys, a puritanical opposer of the ecclesiastical habits, approached in his turn to kiss her hand, "Mr Doctor," said the queen, smiling, "that loose gown becomes you mighty well; I wonder your notions should be so narrow.”