the felicity of queen Elizabeth by sir Francis Bacon queen Elizabeth in regard  both of nature and for tune the pattern of prince and wonder of her sex of who  for to look at and glory thereof monk that live in the shade of cloy sters  tart in style lose in judge mean and not forgetful of they self will be no  sufficient a voucher this testimony be long to man of note such as have stand  at the helm of state and be acquaint with the depth and tide of civil affair  in all antiquity the rule of a woe man have be very rare in that rule the  felicity rare and the continuance of that felicity ra rest of all yet this  lady reign full four and forty year and overlived not her felicity of which  happiness I purpose to speak a little without run in to praise for praise be  give by man but happiness be the gift of God I say the first step of her Feli  city in that she be raise to the top of all from a private fortune for  customary so run the juice once of man to esteem that most happy which happen  most be yond hope and expectation but this be not all I mean my aim reach  further that prince bring up in regal house to hope of succession not uncer  tain be often deprave with soft and licentious breed and be come immoderate in  their reign from hence we find the best and most excellent king be teach in  school of either fortune such as with we be Henrythe see venth and Lewisthe  twelve a among the French both of which about the same time as the I mory yet  remain obtain a kingdom not from privacy only but only from adversity whereof  the latter flourish in justice and the former in wisdom like to they be the  condition of this prince who hope and beginning fortune brauled but be thence  forward constant to her till her end for first by birth she have her turn by  succession then she be disinherit and at last lie aside and forget in the  reign of her brother her fortune be propitiate ous and fair which in her  sister grow dark and dangerous but yet she be not sudden take from prison to  the crown least that fret of remembrance may perhaps make her swell but be  first restore to liberty she after ward obtain her claim with out stir or  competition of who God intend to make so rare a prince it seem he prepare her  mind and make her ascend by the step of her discipline to the crown of her own  inheritance neither ought the calamity of her mother blast the dignity of her  birth especial it be certain that Henrythe eight be rather lead with love  towards another then indignation against her the nature of which king light in  his love apt to suspicion and in they hasty to blood can a void the note of  posterity as for the accusation make against her person in themselves not good  ble and lean upon slight con jectures they be not only de test by the silent  murmurer of those time but by queen whether   her self in that memorable and  heroical speech which she use at the instant of her death whereas prepare her  self to leave this world and have get as she think a love and trusty mes  senger she bid he deliver this message to the king that well she see his  majesty will not give over his old wont in heap new honour upon her first from  a gentlewoman he have make her a marquis from thence his consort and a queen  and now find no high pitch of ho nou_r upon the earth he be plea say to  advance her in her innocen cy to the crown of martyrdom which though that  messenger dare not relate to the king burr it snows in new desire yet fame  preserver of truth have keep it safe for after age moreover I put no small  part of her felicity in the measure and compass of her reign not so much for  be long as because it take up that space of age which be most fit to hold the  reins of public government for at five and twenty year when tuition begin to  cease she begin and reign till threescore and whereby she neither feel the  wrong of a pupil under another arbitration nor yet the inconve niences of a  old decrepit age private man feel misery enough in old age but usual it bring  eth to prince beside those common grief end void of glow ry and diminution of  estate few attain a old and unwieldy age without some loss of to count over on  and state take one example in Philip the second king of Spain a most puissant  prince and come in sway a kingdom who in his latter day feel the burden and  feebleness of age help weakness with wisdom submit himself to the course of  mortal thing thereupon he restore such place as have be win in there he  establish a peace and attempt the same elsewhere that his affair be all  compound he may leavethem entire and illetigious to his heir the contrary in  all thing hap n to Q Elizabeth to who for tune be so firm that she never  suffer in flourish or decline year any declination and to seal up her rare  felicity she depar take not this world till the rebel lion in Ireland be  decide by stroke of a happy battle that there may be no blemish nor  imperfection in her glory that be not also to be forget ten what kind of  people she go verne have she reign in palm grevis or over the milk sop of Asia  it will have be no mar well that a female prince shall command effeminate  nation but that in England so warlike and stout a people shall stir and stop  at the beck of a woman can not be without great  to regard with wonder on yet  for all this inclination of her people longing for war of their rest impatient  she be never hinder from love and keep of peace which will of she be second  with success I reckon among her chief praise for it not only become her sex  and ease her age but be certain a great comfort to her conscience indeed about  the ten of her reign some tumult be attempt in the north but they be quick  quench and she enjoy ever after deep peace and security which inward peace of  her time I judge be most glorious for two respect the one that it shine the  better by the flame and combustion of her neighbour the other that  notwithstanding the easiness of peace arm want not their honour whereby the  prowess of the English name be not only keep up but increase hence many supply  be send in to Scotland France and the ne therlands diverse expedition by sea  into the Indies some whereof give the world a girdle fleet be rig to infest  the coast of Spain and Portugal the rebel in Ireland be often tame and  suppress so that she take a special care that neither the courage of the  people shall rest nor their fame suffer any if minution to this glory the  weight of desert be add for by her reasonable relief neighbour prince be  preserve in the king dom and afflict people ex pose by their lord bid counsel  to the cruelty of their minister and devote to the shambles receive petition  in their misery whereof they feel the benefit at this day in her counsel she  be no less kind and helpful then in her supply whereby she persuade the king  of Spain to assuage his a her towards his subject of the ne therlands reduce  they to obe dience upon tolerable term and often solicit the king of France to  keep their faith by not infringe the edict grant to public peace in the first  where of she have regard to the state of Europe in general lest the boundless  ambition of Spain once break out shall fuse it self oh for the Christian world  and en danger the common liberty in the second she have compassion of so many  innocent that suffer fire and sword with their wife and child among who the  scum of the people arm and a nimated with public power be let lose like wild  beast to devour they who blood call for vengeance and expiation up on that  kingdom which have make a league to commit inhu mane murder and savage wool  tions in both which she omit not do the office of a kind wise and considerate  prince there be yet another cause which make the piece of her reign more  admirable namely that it proceed from her own wisdom and contrive against the  disposition of the time for if we consider her kingdom ei there cut into  faction at home by difference of religion or abroad stand as the strength and  bull work of Christendom against the monstrous design and overflow king power  of Spain we shall find that there be no fuel want for a war but she have  provide for all and get the reach both in force and Council as that I morable  event well declare which for the happiness thereof surpass all the action of  our age for when that navy call invincible who sail swell with pride and  secure of victory have enter the narrow sea to the fear and astonishment of  yew rope it neither take a cock boat at sea nor burn a cottage at land nor  once touch upon the coast but be miserable scatter and put to flight and at  last dash upon against the rock whist peace remain in her confine and no  commotion be see in the land no less happy be she in e escape the plot of  traitor then defeat the power of her even I for though diverse plot eye be  hatch against her life yet all be either discover or fail neither do they work  any jealousy or distrust in her mind for she keep not the more within nor go  the less abroad nor in crease the number of her guard but secure and confident  and mindful more of her deliverance from danger then of the than her it self  she change nothing from the wont course of her life it be not also unworthy to  be mark the quality of those time wherein she flourish for some age fall out  to be so barbarous and silly that it be no hard matter to rule a nation of man  then to lead a flock of sheep but she be eminent in learned and refine time  wherein it be not easy to excel without singular part of nature habituation of  virtue and extraordinary in dowments of wit and Tem per beside the reign of  woman use to be obscure with marriage who worth and action be common smother  up under the name and covert of their husband those only that live unmarried  have no partner in their glory such be she and this praise she deserve the  more be cause she be support by no prop but her own no half bro there nor  uncle nor prince of the blood be remain to who she may impart her care and  receive assistance in her govern yea those who she advan place to high honour  she keep in such a balance and restraint that every one labour most to please  her will while she to go back n mistress of her self barren indeed she be  leave no child behind her which also hap pen to many fortunate Prin Apelles  Alexanderthe great Julius Caesar and Trojaenthe emperor but this may be a  diverse heap  ction and be dispute on either part some call it diminishment of  happiness as if those man be bless above the condition of man who prove aswell  happy in their propagation as in they self other make it the pitch of  happiness which say they be then only complete when it be exempt from the  wheel of for tune and out of danger to be blemish by a degenerate issue she  want not also those out ward adjunct of happiness she be tall of stature of  comely limb and excellent feature in her countenance majesty sit under the  vail of sweetness her health be sound and prosperous and so draw to her last  without sense of age or misfortune she have that which Augustus so much desire  a gentle and happy de parture the which be likewise record of Antonius Of that  good emperor who death be like a dream or some sweet the lowest gination in  all her sickness be nothing ominous nor lamen table nor uncouth to her kind no  symptom be see strange or noisome but all of such a frame as rather show the  frailty of the corruption of humane nature for some few day before her death  find her body seldom moisten with wine or a large diet to shrink up with  dryness and care which attend a crown she suffer some convulsion in her nerve  still keep though in a slow and weak measure her speech motion and  understanding which be not ordinary in that if seize but this estate not long  a bide seem rather the first step to death then last act of life for when the  power of life be waste it be a wretched thing to remain in life but by the  slumber of sense to haste insensible to death be a clement and easy close of  life add this to the hap of her felicity that she be not only happy in her own  but also in the ability of her servant for she have such gift man about her as  perhaps this island have rare bring forth before but God when he favour king  enlarge the heart of their minister two felicity yet remain that may be call  post humus which be indeed high and happy then all these that adorn her life  one of her successor the oh there of her memory such a suc cessor she have who  albeit in re guard of his masculine virtue and fair progeny and access of a  new kingdom may somewhat shadow or exceed her glory yet he always honour her  name and give a kind of per petuity to her deed for he make so small  alteration in the order he find establish or person she have choose that so  the son can succeed his father with great silence or less danger or  disturbance of estate and concern the fame and happiness of her memory that be  yet so fresh in the mind and mouth of man as take life from her ash wherein  all envy be rake up it seem to contend with the happiness of her life for if  any factious humour raise from dissent in religion be yet buzz abroad though  it seem by this time conjure down by consent of truth as it be most foul and  false so it can be long live and true I have gather these note of God favour  and her fe licity for this special end that malicious man shall be afraid to  mingle their curse among so many blessing of God after all this if any shall  say as one do of Caesar we hear of thing whereat we wonder but look for thing  which we may commend I very think that true admiration be certain excess of  praise and very these happy tie here describe can befall to any who be not  visible sustai n with divine favour and in some sort have not set their life  in aim of glory nevertheless I will recount some few thing con cerning her  manner and of those only which may seem to lend occasion unto base speech of  contumelious man in her religion she be pious constant moderate and can not  away with innovation her pi ety chief appear in her work and action but it be  also see in the ordinary course and con versation of her life she be sell dom  absent from prayer in her closet or at sermon and solemn service abroad  diligent in read the scripture well verse in the father and above all in saint  au gustine upon diverse occasion she compose sundry prayer when she mention  God though in common talk add for the most part of creator cast as I have  often observe her face eye in to a reverend from of humility and whereat some  have publish that she put off the think of mortality nor can abide to hear of  old age or death it be most true for many year before her end she be not nice  often and with much grace to call her self old woe man and use to discourse of  her tomb and what in scription will most please her say she delight not in  long title or shadow of glory a line or two will be enough for her memory  which in few word shall only express her name in her virginity the time of her  reign the restore of religion establishment of peace true it be that be once  importune to declare her successor while she be yet in her full strength not  unfit to bear child she will not endure her wind sheet to be spread before her  eye and yet not long before her death sit pensive and as it be muse of  mortality as one come and tell her that diverse place stand too long vacant in  the state she rise up somewhat offend and say she know well enough that her  place will not stand a instant empty her moderation may perchance be doubt in  matter of religion consider the severity of those law she make against the pa  pists but herein we will pro duce such only thing whereof we have certain  knowledge and make diligent search out of all question the meaning of this  princess mind be this nei there to offer violence to the conscience of man nor  to suf fer her state to be disquiet under pretext of conscience out of which  foundation she judge first of all that the toleration of two religion in one  hot heart burn people who from diffe renc in mind may break out in to blow may  be of pernicious consequence to the state there upon at her entrance upon the  crown when all thing be full of suspicion she use the power of the law and  commit some of the busy and most fact ous prelate for the rest of their coat  so far be she from vex king they with severe examine once that she wink at  their fault and take they into her protection this be the first state of thing  and although the interdiction of Piusthe five may have stir up her anger and  make her resolve of a sharp course yet she depart not from her nature and chan  ged little from her mildness for like a most wise and hero call lady secure of  her people love and that the Popish fact on can not stir at home with out far  assistance she pass light tle for the clap of the pope thunder but about the  three and twenty of her reign thing receive a alteration which change of time  be not complot by design but record in public act and cut as it be in brass  for per petuity till that year no great or heavy punishment be lie upon her  Popish subject by the law precedent but now the vast project and ambition of  Spain for subdue of this kingdom begin to be detect whereof a principal part  be that a new fangle faction shall be raise in the bowel of this state which  shall not only be ready to receive a for reign invader but also un der  pretence of the Roman Re ligion and power of the pope bull shall absolve her  sub jects from their faith and all giance and prepare their spi rite for  dangerous innovation about that time Ireland be as saulted with open arm scan  dalous libel be cast out a against the fame and govern mean and the queen and  all thing seem to swell up in pre sage of great motion I will rather think  that many of the priest be make wick Edward nstruments of other man malice  then that all be privy to their Council yet this be true and verify by sundry  confession that almost all the priest that be send over into this kingdom from  the three and twenty to the their tieth of this queen reign in which year that  Popish and Spanish design be put in exe small insect have private instruction  to divulge abroad that this e state can stand thus no long that within a while  they shall see a new face of thing and notable alteration that the good of  England be care for by the pope and popish Prin Apelles if they will not be  win ting to themselves yea some of the priest be manifest find guilty of those  plot and machination which tend to the subversion of the state and that which  move most the car riage of their secret counsel be disclose by letter inter  cepted import that all the watchfulness of the queen and Council over the  papist will be utter delude for albeit they labour much that no man of note or  nobility shall be head of the faction yet a course be take to effect the work  by man of mean and in feriour rank who mind though they know not one anon  there shall be link together by secret confession without needs of assembly  such be be then use and of late in a case not un like resume which it seem be  familiar with those man thus clangor approach like a storm put a law of  necessi thy upon the queen it be now high time that such part of her subject  as be estrange from her love he poison without hope of cure and yet grow rich  withal in a private life which free they from public charge shall be keep  under and restrain with law of a more heavy nature the course of all this  misery still increase be impute to the priest who carry into foreign country  and feed by the crumb of stranger prince profess enemy to this state be bring  up only in such place where the name of the queen their sovereign be ne for  hear of but as a heretic and excommunicate person tear with curse and excommu  nications if these man be not entice with treacherous de sign they be sure  know to be familiar with such as be who with the venom of their be have  pernicious deprave the mind of many papist and sour their whole Lump with a  new malignant livery which be sweet and less timorous before now therefore no  safe re remedy can be find then to debar these unnatural man from all entrance  into this king dom which be likewise decree under penalty of their life in the  seven and twenty of her reign not long after when the tem pest rise and fall  upon this land the event well declare what love remain in these man breast  towards their dear country for so be they blind with hate and envy that they  rest neither night nor day bind themselves with vow and sacrament to bring it  into bondage of a for reign enemy hereupon albeit the cloud of Spain which  cause this see verity be blow over and vanish yet the remem branc of danger  pass strike deep in the mind of man and because it will have be ac count  levity to have repeal those law and unfaithfulness to neglect they once  establish ed the queen be so draw with weight of affair that it be no more in  her power to set they in that former estate wherein they be before in the  twenty three of her reign hereunto may be add that although there be not want  the industry of diverse minister to increase her exche quer and justice of  other to urge exemption of the law wherein they only see the public safety to  consist yet constant to her natural clemen cy she debate the keenness of their  edge that the priest who suffer death be very few in regard of their exceed  number these thing I rehearse not as point of her defence this cause needs no  justification whereas both the safety of this kingdom require no less and the  whole course of this see verity fall far short of the bloo die example among  the pa pists which rather flow from pride and malice then any ne cessity but I  be not forgetful of my first affection have by this time sufficient show that  this prince be moderate in cause of religion and if any sharpness happen  therein that it proceed not from her nam ture but from the iniquity of the  time of her great care and con stancy in true religion this may be a certain  argument that albeit popery have be establish by much power and study in her  sister reign and have take deep root by time and be still confirm by the writ  and as send of all in authority yet since that it neither agree with the word  of God nor the ahead mitive pureness nor her own conscience she pluck it up  with little help and abolish it with great courage and reso lution which be  not do up on a rash impetuous fancy but with maturity and advice whereof among  many other thing we may take a conje cture by a answer so make up on a  by-occasion in the beginning of her reign when prisoner as the manner be be  release for a boon of her new inauguration a wax tain courtier who by custom  have take up a boldness of speech and jest wait for her as she go to chapel  when either of himself or set on by wise man he put a humble petition cry out  a loud withal that yet there re maim four or five honest prison ner who be  unjust detai n beseech he majesty to set they at liberty and they be the four  evangelist and saint Paul the apostle who have be long shut up in a strange  language as in a prison and keep from converse among the people to who she  wise answer that full inquiry shall be make of themselves whether they will be  release yea or no whereby she put off a sudden question with a suspend answer  and still reserve the interest of thing in her own freedom and to cut off on  in which business she pro ceeded not by piece or with trepidation but in a  grave and settle order first call the synod to conference and the state to  parliament and then within compass of one year so reform ecclesiastical affair  that till her die day she de part not a whit from the con stitution then  determine yea ever after her custom be to warn almost every parliament when it  sit that nothing shall be change in the right and discipline of the church and  thus far concern religion now to leave these sad thing if any man shall think  it a lightness that she suffer her self to be court and woo ed and refuse not  to be see upon the scene of love even beyond the condition of her age this if  it be gentle con strued want not also a share in admiration for it sound  unlike those old story of a maiden queen live in elysian island from who court  none be debar that use fair ac costment and no lasciviousness in love but if  it be severe scan then great be the wonder for albeit that we of ten see that  a state be loosen by the looseness of the prince yet these delight she use  with such a curb that they little dim her fame less her majesty and soften the  vigour and if spensation of her state nothing at all but to shut up my  discourse the prince be certain good and virtuous and so she de fire to seem  she hate vice and take the way to fame by that of honour while I be upon her  virtue I can for get one passage when letter be write to her ambassa dor in  France to deliver some private message to the queen mother then of Valois  wherein her secretary as it be to curry favour have insert this clause that  the ambassador shall say they two be two such queen so verse in sovereign be  and see in politic affair no king nor man in the world go beyond they she  mislike the association and command dead it to be blot out say the be she have  learned be of a better stamp and the principle of a far high nature whereby  she rule her people she be not puff up with the length of her reign although  she be long a queen for if any have tell her fit in this course that the world  will have take notice of her wonder ble part though she have live in some mean  estate she will have be well please with such insinuation so much she desire  that her virtue shall stand alone unbeholding to her fortune for praise but if  I shall enter into her moral or regal commendation or recite the roll of her  virtue and rank they in their proper place and light befit so rare a prince  which shall slide into the story of her life it will require great leisure and  a large vein I have only summon up these two parcel brief and sincere as I can  for it must be confess that no commender can be find sufficient for this  prince but only time which from the first beginning never produce in all her  sex any one like to her for civil government and and ministration of affair  Finis