He greatly entertaineth no amity with any prince, other than for form; neither is his friendship otherwise respected of others, save in respect of the reputation of so great a kingdom. The pope beareth a great sway, and the king of Spain by means of his pensions; and of the queen-mother with the Guise; she for her two daughters, he for other regard, can do what he list there, or hinder what he would not have done. The division in his country for matters of religion and state, through miscontentment of the nobility to see strangers advanced to the greatest charges of the realm, the offices of justice scld, the treasury wasted, the people polled, the country destroyed, hath bred great trouble, and like to see more. The faction between the house of Guise against that of Montmorancy hath gotten great advantage. At this present the king is about to restore Don Antonio, King of Portugal, whereto are great levies and preparation. abroad. This duke first had intelligence with the Count Ludovic in King Charles's days, and an enterprise to escape from the court, and in this king's time joined with them of the religion and malcontents: after was carried against them; seeketh the marriage with her majesty, so mighty a princess, as it were to marry might with his activity. He hath had practice in Germany to be created King of Romans, made a sudden voyage with great expedition into the Low Countries, now is there again with better success than so soon was looked for. The King of Spain, Philip, son to Charles the Fifth, about sixty years of age, a prince of great understanding, subtle and aspiring, diligent and cruel. This king especially hath made his benefit of the time where his last attempt on Portugal deserveth exact consideration, thereby as by the workmanship to know the master. The first success he had was at St. Quintin, where he got a notable hand of the French; he sought to reduce the Low Countries to an absolute subjection. Francis, Duke of Anjou and of Brabant, for his calling and quality greatly to be considered as any prince this day living, being second person to the king, his brother, and in likelihood to suc- He hath kept France in a continual broil, ceed him. There is noted in the disposition of where, by his pensions and the favour of the this prince a quiet mildness, giving satisfaction house of Guise, by means of the queen-mother in to all men; facility of access and natural courte-contemplation of her nieces, he beareth great sy; understanding and speech great and eloquent; sway. With the pope he is so linked as he may secrecy more than commonly is in the French; do what him list, and dispose of that authority to from his youth always desirous of action, the serve his purposes: as he has gotten great auwhich thing hath made him always followed and thority in pretending to protect the church and respected. And though hitherto he hath brought religion. to pass no great purpose, having suffered great wants and resistance both at home and abroad, yet by the intermeddling is grown to good experience, readiness, and judgment the better thereby able to guide and govern his affairs, both in practice, in treaty, and action. Moreover, the diseased estate of the world doth so concur with this his active forwardness, as it giveth him matter to work upon: and he is the only man to be seen of all them in distress, or desirous of alteration. A matter of special furtherance to all such as have achieved great things, when they have found matter disposed to receive form. And there is to be found no other prince in this part of the world so towards and forward as the duke, towards whom they in distress may turn their eyes. We do plainly see in the most countries of Christendom so unsound and shaken an estate, as desireth the help of some great person, to set together and join again the pieces asunder and out of joint. Wherefore the presumption is great, that if this prince continue this his course, he is likely to become a mighty potentate: for, one enterprise failing, other will be offered, and still men evil at ease, and desirous of a head and captain, will run to him that is fittest to receive them. Besides, the French, desirous to shake off the civil wars, must needs attempt somewhat VOL. I.-50 He possesseth the one half of Italy, comprehending Sicily and Sardinia, with Naples and Milan; the which estates do yield him little other profit, save the maintenance of so many Spaniards as he keepeth there always. The Duke of Florence relieth greatly upon him, as well in respect of the state of Siena, as of the ports he holdeth, and of his greatness. Lucca is under his protection. Genoa, the one faction at his devotion, with their galleys: at his pension is most of the greatest there. Besides the Low Countries, he holdeth the French Comte, the best used of all his subjects, and Luxembourg: the West Indies furnish him gold and silver, the which he consumeth in the wars of the Low Countries, and in pensions, and is greatly indebted; while he worketh on the foundation his father laid, to erect a monarchy, the which, if he succeed in the conquest of Portugal, he is likely to achieve, unless death do cut him off. He hath one son of the years of five by his last wife, two daughters by the French king's sister, two base sons. He hath greatly sought the marriage of the queen's daughter of France, sister to his last wife, and cousin-german removed. His revenues are reckoned to amount to sixteen millions. The chief in credit with him of martial men and for counsel are .... His father deceased in the year 1559, after which he had wars ten years space with the He maketh account to have in continual pay Swede, which gave him occasion to arm by sea. fifty thousand soldiers. He maintaineth galleys to the number of one hundred and forty, whereof there are sixty in Portugal, the rest are at Naples and other places. Now is on league with the Turk. D. Antonio, elect King of Portugal, thrust out by the King of Spain, of forty-five years of age, a mild spirit, sober and discreet: he is now in France, where he he hath levied soldiers, whereof part are embarked, hoping by the favour of that king and the good will the Portugals do bear him, to be restored again. He holdeth the Torges, and the East Indians yet remain well affected to him, a cause of itself deserving the considering and relief of all other princes. Besides in his person, his election to be noted with the title he claimeth very singular, and seldom the like seen, being chosen of all the people; the great dangers he hath escaped likewise at sundry times. The King of Poland, Stephen Batoaye, a Baron of Hungary, by the favour of the Turk chosen King of the Pollacks, after the escape made by the French king; a prince of the greatest value and courage of any at this day, of competent years, sufficient wisdom, the which he hath showed in the siege of Danske, and the wars with the Muscovite. The Hungarians could be content to exchange the emperor for him. The Bohemians likewise wish him in the stead of the other. He were like to attain to the empire were there not that mortal enmity between those two nations as could not agree in one subjection. Straight upon his election he married the Infant of Poland, somewhat in years and crooked, only to content the Pollacks, but never companied with her. He doth tolerate there all religions, himself heareth the mass, but is not thought to be a Papist: he had a great part of his education in Turkey, after served the last emperor. Frederick the Second, of forty-eight years, King of Denmark and Norway; his wife Sophia, daughter to Ulricke, Duke of Mechelebourg, by whom he hath six children, four daughters and two sons, Christianus and Ulricus, the eldest of iive years of age. The chiefest about him, Nicolas Cose, his chancellor, in whose counsel he doth much repose. He hath always eight hundred horse about his court, to whom he giveth ten dollars the month. His navy is six great ships of one thousand five hundred ton, and fifteen smaller, ten galleys which sail to pass the Straits. His revenues grow chiefly in customs, and such living as were in the hands of the abbeys, and bishops, whereby he is greatly enriched: his chief haven is Copenhagen, where always his navy lieth. His brother John, Duke of Holst in Jutland, married to the daughter of the Duke of Inferior Saxony. Magnus, his other brother, Bishop of Courland, married the daughter of the Muscovite's brother. The chiefest wars that the King of Denmark hath is with Sweden, with whom now he hath peace. The Duke of Holst is uncle to the king now reigning; they make often alliances with Scotland. John, King of Sweden, son of Gustavus. Erick married a soldier's daughter, by whom Magnus bestraught of his wits. Charles married a daughter of the Palsgrave. Katherine married to the Earl of East-Frise land. Anne to one of the Palsgraves. This prince is of no great force nor wealth, but of late hath increased his navigation, by reason of the wars between him and the Dane, the which, the wars ceasing, they hardly maintain. The Muscovite Emperor of Russia, John Basil, of threescore years of age, in league and amity with no prince; always at wars with the Tartarians, and now with the Pollake. He is advised by no council, but governeth altogether like a tyrant. He hath one son of thirty years of age. Not long sithence this prince deposed himself, and set in his place a Tartar, whom he removed again. Of late sent an ambassador to Rome, giving some hope to submit himself to that see. Their religion is nearest the Greek church, full of superstition and idolatry. BIOGRAPHY. IN HAPPY MEMORY OF ELIZABETH QUEEN OF ENGLAND; OR, A COLLECTION OF THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. WRITTEN BY HIS LORDSHIP IN LATIN, AND ENGLISHED BY DR. RAWLEY. both excel in their, several ways; the former in QUEEN ELIZABETH, both in her natural endow- | their crowns, not only from a private, but also ments, and her fortune, was admirable amongst from an adverse and afflicted fortune; and did women, and memorable amongst princes. But this is no subject for the pen of a mere scholar, or any such cloistered writer. For these men are eager in their expressions, but shallow in their judgments; and perform the scholar's part well, but transmit things but unfaithfully to posterity. Certainly it is a science belonging to statesmen, and to such as sit at the helms of great kingdoms, and have been acquainted with the weight and secrets of civil business, to handle this matter dexterously. Rare in all ages hath been the reign of a woman, more rare the felicity of a woman in her reign, but most rare a permanency and lasting joined with that felicity. As for this lady she reigned four-and-forty years complete, and yet she did not survive her felicity. Of this felicity I am purposed to say somewhat; yet without any excursion into praises; for praises are the tribute of men, but felicity the gift of God. First, I reckon it as a part of her felicity, that she was advanced to the regal throne from a private fortune. For this is ingenerate in the nature and opinions of men, to ascribe that to the great-princess, was pleased to prepare and mould her est felicity, which is not counted upon, and cometh unlooked for, but this is not that I intend, it is this, princes that are trained up in their father's courts, and to an immediate and apparent hope of succession, do get this by the tenderness and remissness of their education, that they become, commonly, less capable and less temperate in their affections. And therefore you shall find those to have been the ablest and most accomplished kings that were tutored by both fortunes. Such was with us, King Henry the Seventh; and with the French, Lewis the Twelfth both which, in recent memory and almost about the same time. obtained by these degrees of discipline. Neither ought the misfortune of her mother justly to stain the pure stream of her blood; especially seeing it is very evident that King Henry the Eighth did first burn with new loves, before he was inflamed with indignation against Queen Anne: neither is it unknown to the ages since that he was a king naturally prone to loves and jealousies; and not containing himself in those cases from the effusion of blood. Besides, the very person for whom she was suspected showeth the accusation to be less probable, and built upon weak and frivolous suppositions; which was both secretly whispered 395 in many men's ears at that time; and which | ed, I take to be a matter worthy our observation; Queen Anne herself testified by her undaunted for if her lot had fallen amongst the desolate courage, and that memorable speech of her's at the time of her death. For having gotten, as she supposed, a faithful and friendly messenger, in the very hour before her death, she delivered him these words to relate unto the king: "That she had ever found the king very constant and firm to his purpose of advancing her; for first, from the estate of a gentlewoman only, and no way pretending to noble titles, he raised her to the honour of a marchioness; next, he vouchsafed to make her his consort both of his kingdom and bed and now that there remained no higher earthly honour, he meant to crown her innocency with the glory of martyrdom." But though the messenger durst not relate these words to the king, who was already inflamed with new loves, yet certain tradition, the conserver of truth, hath conveyed them to posterity. Palmyrenes, or in Asia, a soft and effeminate race Another principal thing, which I cast into Queen Elizabeth's felicity, was the time and period of her reign; not only for that it was long, but also because it fell into that season of her life, which was most active and fittest for the swaying of a sceptre, for she was fully five-and-twenty years old (at which age the civil law freeth from a curator) when she came to the crown, and reigned to the seventieth year of her life; so that she never suffered either the detriments of pupilage, and check of an over-awing power, or the inconveniences of an impotent and unwieldy old age; and old age is not without a competent portion of miseries, even to private men; but to kings, besides the common burden of years, it brings for the most part a declining in the estates they govern, and a conclusion of their lives without honour. For there hath scarce been known a king that hath lived to an extreme and impotent old age, but he hath suffered some detriment in his territories, and gone less in his reputation. Of which thing there is a most eminent example in Philip the There was another thing that did greatly ad Second, King of Spain, a most puissant prince, vance her glory; that both by her timely succours, and an excellent governor, who, in the last years her neighbour kings were settled in their rightful of his life, and impotent old age, was sensible of thrones, and the suppliant people, who by the ill this whereof we speak; and therefore with great advisedness of their kings were abandoned and circumspection submitted himself to nature's law, given over to the cruelty of their ministers, and to voluntarily surrendered the territories he had got- the fury of the multitude, and to all manner of ten in France, established a firm peace in that butchery and desolation, were relieved by her; kingdom, attempted the like in other places, that by reason whereof they subsist unto this day. so he might transmit his kingdoms peaceable and Neither was she a princess less benign and forentire to his next heir. Contrariwise, Queen tunate in the influence of her counsels than of Elizabeth's fortune was so constant and deeply her succours; as being one that had oftentimes rooted, that no disaster in any of her dominions interceded to the King of Spain, to mitigate his accompanied her indeed declining, but still able wrath against his subjects in the Netherlands, years: nay, further, for an undeniable token of her and to reduce them to his obedience upon some felicity, she died not before the rebellion in Ire- tolerable conditions; and further, as being one land was fortunately decided, and quashed by a that did perpetually and upon all occasions reprebattle there, lest otherwise it might have defal- sent to the French kings the observation of their cated from the total sum of her glory. Now the own edicts, so often declaring and promising condition also of the people over whom she reign-peace to their subjects. I cannot deny but that these good counsels of hers wanted the effect: in | fell upon times of a singular learning and suffi the former I verily believe for the universal good of Europe, lest happily the ambition of Spain, being unloosed from its fetters, should have poured itself (as things then stood) upon the other kingdoms and states of Christendom: and for the latter, the blood of so many innocents with their wives and children slain within their own harbours and nests by the scum of the people, (who like so many mastiffs were let loose, and heartened, and even set upon them by the state,) would not suffer it; which did continually cry unto God for vengeance, that so blood-sucking a kingdom might have her fill thereof, in the intestine slaughters and consumption of a civil war. Howsoever she persisted to perform the part of a wise and loving confederate. ciency; in which it was not possible to be emi- There is another cause also for which we may justly admire this peace so constantly pursued and maintained by the queen. And that is, that it did not proceed from any bent or inclination of those times; but from the prudency of her government and discreet carriage of things. For whereas she herself was not without manifest danger from an ill-affected party at home for the cause of religion, and that the strength and forces of this kingdom were in the place of a bulwark to all Europe against the then dreadful and overflowing ambition and power of the King of Spain, she might have apprehended just cause of a war; but as she was still ready with her counsel, so she was not behindhand with her forces. And this we are taught by an event the most memorable of any in our time, if we look upon the felicity thereof. For when as the Spanish navy (set forth She had also many outward gifts of nature. A with such wonderful preparation in all kinds, the tall stature; a comely and straight making; an terror and amazement of all Europe, carried on extraordinary majesty of aspect, joined with a with almost assurance of victory) came braving sweetness; a most happy and constant healthfulupon our seas; it took not so much as one poor ness of body. Unto which I may add, that in cock-boat of ours, nor fired any one village, nor the full possession both of her limbs and spirits landed one man upon English ground; but was until her last sickness, having received no blow utterly defeated, and after a shameful flight and from fortune, nor decay from old age; she obtainmany shipwrecks quite dispersed, so as the peace ed that which Augustus Cæsar so importunately of this kingdom was never more firm and solid. prayed for; an easy and undistempered passage Neither was her felicity less in escaping treacher- out of this world. Which also is reported of Anous attempts at home, than in subduing and de- toninus Pius, that excellent emperor; whose death feating foreign invasions. For not a few treasons had the resemblance of some soft and pleasing plotted against her life were most fortunately slumber. So in Queen Elizabeth's disease, there discovered and disappointed. And this was no was no ghastly or fearful accident; no idleness cause to make her lead a more fearful or diffident of brain; nothing unaccustomed to man in genelife than before. No new increase of her guard, ral: she was not transported either with desire no immuring herself within her own walls, or of life, or tediousness of sickness, or extremity forbearing to be seen abroad; but as one assured of pain; she had no grievous or uncomely sympand confident, and that was more mindful of her toms, but all things were of that kind, as did rather escape from danger, than of the danger itself, she show the frailty of nature, than a deordination or was constant to her former customs and fashions. reproach of it. For some few days before her Furthermore, it is worth our labour to consider death, being much pined with the extreme drought the nature of the times in which she reigned. of her body, and those cares that accompany a For there are some times so barbarous and igno- crown, and not wonted to refresh herself with rant that it is no greater matter to govern people wine, or any liberal diet, she was struck with a than to govern a flock of sheep. But this queen | torpor and frigidity in her nerves; notwithstand |