The life of Queen Elizabeth

Front matter

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Chapter I

Birth of Elizabeth at Greenwich Palace— Chamber of the Virgins— Remark of her mother, Queen Anne Boleyn— Christening— Placed first in the succession— Marriage negotiation with France — Execution of her mother— Elizabeth declared illegitimate — Her governess — ^Want of apparel — Altered fortunes — Appears at her brother's christening—Her early promise— Education— Her first letter— Patronised by Anne of Cleves and Katharine Howard — Residence with her sister Mary — Offered in marriage to the heir of Arran— Her letter to Queen Katharine Parr— Proficiency in languages— Her early compositions — Her brother's love for her — Sllares hb studies— Her father's death— Her grief— Wooed by Seymour, the lord admiral— Refuses his hand- Offended at his marriage with the queen-dowager— Princess Mary invites her to live with her— She resides with Queen Katharine Parr— Her p;ovemess, Mrs. Ashley, and Roger Ascham — Freedoms of the admiral — The queen's jealousy — Elizabeth removes to Cheston — Her letters to the queen and admiral — Death and bei^uest of Queen Katharine Pan^Thc admiral's clandestine courtship of Elizabeth— Injurious reports concerning it— Elizabeth's conferences with Parry— Her governess Ashley sent to the Tower— Examination of Elizabeth— Restramt at Hatfield— Defends her governess- Letter to the Protector— Her confessions— Her governess superseded by Lady Tyrwhit— Disdainful conduct of Elizabeth— She writes again to the Protector- Serious scandals on Elizabeth — She intercedes for her governess — Execution of the admiral — Elizabeth's regard for hb memory — The ladies of her household . /. x

CHAPTER n

Elizabeth's scholastic pursuits— Ascham— Elizabeth's letter to Edward VL— Her first communication with Cecil— She goes to court— Her simplicity of attire — Her conformity to the Reformation — Prevented from seeing King Edward— Her letter to him — Her household at Hatfield — Privy purse expenses — Her letter to the council — Death of Edward VL — Elizabeth escapes Northumberland's snares — Required to acknowledge Lady Jane Gray's title — Prudent answer— Meets her sister — Enters London with Mary — ^Admiration of the people — Popularity with the Protestants — Queen's jealousy — Elizabeth refuses the mass — Queen Mary's displeasure-^Elizabeth dissembles and conforms — Given precedency next the queen at the coronation — Dines with the queen and Anne of Cleves — Intrigues of the French ambassador — Plots in favour of Elizabeth and Courtenay — Increasing coolness of the queen — Elizabeth forbidden to quit the palace— Or to receive visits — Matrimonial proposals — Offered an asylum in France— Courtenay betrays the plot — Wyatt's rebellions — Elizabeth implicated therein— Queen Mary sends for her— Her excuses — Mandate for her appearance — Her journey from Hatfield to court — Entrance into London — Queen refuses to sec her— Her death desired by the council — Intercepted letters to Elizabeth — Gardiner's accusations against her — Her household discharged— Her distress— Her letter to Queen Mary — She is carried by water to the Tower — Her disconsolate condition.

CHAPTER in

Elizabeth in the Tower — Examined by Gardiner and the council — Confronted with^ir J. Crofts — Her expostulation — Rigorous examination of her servants — Compelled to hear mass — Harsh treatment of her Protestant ladies — Her deportment in prison — Precautions against her escape — The Spjanish ambassador urges her execution —

IWyat exonerates her on the scaffold— She is permitted to take the air— Sympathy of children for Elizabeth— Flowers brought her in the Tower garden— Warden's child iv . .

Contents

examined by the council — Her cause favoured by her uncle (Lord W. Howard) and Arundel — Illness of the queen — Attempt of Gardiner to destroy Elizabeth — Mary replaces her sister's picture — Refuses to have her tried — Elizabeth taken from the Tower to Richmond by water — Refuses to marry Philibert of Savoy — Harsh treatment on her journey to Woodstock— Sympathy of the people — ^Lord William's hospitality to Elizabeth — Her captivity at Woodstock— Her prison verses — Her needle- work — Dangerous illness — Recovery—Tourney to^ Hampton Court — Interview with Gardiner, &c. — Her spirited conduct — Her interview with the queen — Reconciliation— Joins the rojral parties at Christmas — Takes her place next the queen — Homage paid to her by^ Philip II. — She again rejects Philibert of Savoy — Returns to Woodstock— Accusations of sorcery with Dr. Dee — Philip II.'s friendship for Elirabeth— She is permitted to return to Hatfield — Sir T. Pope her castellan — His courtesy to Elizabeth — Fetes aijdjpageants — Implication in new plots — Her letter to the queen — She visits* "tEe court—Meditates withdrawing to France — Fresh reconciliation with the queen— Offer by the Prince of Sweden — Her prudent conduct — Appointed successor to the crown — Mary's last requests to her — Contradictory statements— Interview with the Spanish ambassador — Sups with him at Lady Clinton's — Their conversation — Queen Mary sends her the crown jewels — Premature reports of Mary's death — Elizabeth sends Throckmorton — Death of the queen announced to her — Her exclamation on being saluted queen p. Bo

CHAPTER IV

Recognition of Elizabeth in parliament— Proclaimed queen in Westminster Hall, &c. — Her first council— Cecil placed at the helm — Elizabeth's state entry into London — Sojourn at the Tower — Attends her sister's funeral — Temporizes with chmch reform — Hears mass for a month — Rejects it on Christmas Day — Her coronation — Pageants andprocessi.Qns — She re-establishes the Reformed Church— Declares that she win CTie "a^?u^ln-^efuses Philip II. — Her perilous position in Europe — Instals her favourite, Robert Dudley, as Knight of the Garter— Suitors for her hand— FJtes to the French ambassador— Tournament, &c. — Wooed by the Earls of Arran and AHindel — They are rivalled by Lord Robert Dudley — Scandals regarding Elizabeth — Offers of the Archduke Charles and Eric of Sweden — Portraits of Elizabeth — Reports of her marriage with Robert Dudley — Her popular charities — Elizabeth's coinaee and coins — Her antipathy to J. Knox — Her visit to the Mint — Progress through the citj^ — Censures the marriages of the Clergy— Severity to Lady K. Gray— Differences with the Queen of Scots — Refuses her safe conduct — Entertains the grand prior of France.

CHAPTER V

Elizabeth's persecutions of Nonconformists — Her visit to St.^ Paul's — Displeasure with the dean — New year's gift — Predictions of her death — Parliament petitions her to marry or declare her successor- Her irritability— She prevents the Queen of Scots' marriage — Her letter to Warwick — Her Cambridfge progress— Offers Robert Dudley's hand to the Queen of Scots — Creates him Earl of Leicester — Levity of her behaviour^Marriage offer of Charles IX. — Discourses of Leicester and^ French ambassadors — Eliabeth imprisons Lady Mary Gray-^Takes offence with Leicester — Her favour to Cecilia of Sweden — The queen gives Leicester hopes — Her irresolution — Her manner of receiving the sacrament — Cruelty to Heath — ^Her deceitful treatment of the Scotch rebels- Renewal of matrimonial negotiations with the Archduke Charles — Hopes and fears of Leicester — Elizabeth's vexation at the birth of Mary Stuart's son — ^Visit to the University of Oxford — Tries to cut short Dr. Westphaling's oration — His pertinacity ■^— Her whimsical reproof— Dispute with parliament— Her encoun^ement of alchemists and conjurors — Adventures with Dr. Dee — Her patronage of him — Her wardrobe- Remonstrates with Mary Stuart — Her letter to Catherine de Medicis — Description of the Archduke Charles— Arrival of Mary Queen of Scots in England— Crooked policy of Elizabeth — Conferences at York — Norfolk's suspected correspondence with Mary — Elizabeth's reply to Lady Lenox . ^. 187

Contents xi

CHAPTER VI

Elizabeth's deportment to foreign ambassadors — Her first interview with La Mothe Fenelon — Her coquettish remarks on Philip of Spain — She puts the Spanish ambassador under arrest — Compares Alva's letter to a Valentine — Speaks angrily of the Queen of Scots— Writes to that princess— Wains the Duke of Norfolk— Negotiations for Elizabeth's marriage with the King of France — Flattery of the ambassador — Indecorum of Leicester at Elizabeth's toilet — Remonstrances of the nobles on the same — Arrest of Norfolk — Northern rebellion — Elizabeth's poem — Her sanguinary orders — Elizabeth excommunicated by Pius V. — Conspiracies against her — Attempts to renew matrimonial treaty with the archduke — Anger at his marriage— Henri of Anjou proposed to her— Her wish of accepting him— Demurs of her council — Her anger— Confidential remarks to her ladies — Her visit to Sir Thomas Gresham — Names the Royal Elxchange — Her conversation with the French ambassador on marriage — Her new favourite, Sir Christopher Hatton — Her angry letter to the Bishop of Ely — Intrigues i^rainst her marriage — ^Reluctance of her suitor — His uncourteous observations — Elizabeth's remarks on the portrait of the Queen of France — Forbids George Strickland to appear in his place in parliament — Contumaciousness of the Duke of Anjou — Vexation of hb mother^Archduke Rodolph ofifers to Elizabeth— Flatteries of the French ambassador — Elizabeth sends her portrait to Anjou — Her remarks on his portrait — Fills her work-basket with apricots for the French ambassador^Her message to him — Sends him a stag slain by herself— Manner of Elizabeth's visit to Hunsdon House .... . • • /• 347

CHAPTER VII

Elizabeth discovers Norfolk's implication in Ridolfi's plot— Scene with the French ambassador — Her^ anger — Her observation touching her wedding— Aqjou breaks his fsuth with her — His younger brother ofiered toher in his place — EuzabeUi's vexation — Her rejoinder to the Spanish ambassador — Her reluctance to Norfolk's execution — Signs his death-warrant — Revokes it — Her angry letter to the Queen of Scots — Dangerous illness of Elizabeth — Her marriage treaty with Alen^n — Her Maundy — Alenfon's portrait sent to her — Execution of Norfolk — Parliament urges her to execute the Q^ottn of Scots — Elizabeth's noble reply— Signs a treaty with France— Elizaheth's fetes, &c., and Sunday .amusements— Dissimulation — Flattered hv La ^Sfothe Fenetdn — ^AleD^m's letter — Elizabeth objects to his youth, ugliness, &c. — Deliberates on curing his defects— Elizabeth's praise of Cathcrme de Medicb— Entry into Warwick— Receives the French ambassadors there — ^Their flattery, and marriage discussions— Warwick fired by the fireworks at a festival in Elizabeth's honour — Her reception ot the French ambassador after the massacre of St. Bartholomew — Her project for betraying the Queen of Scots — Her parsimonjr— She continues secretly her marriage treaty with Alen^on — She has the small-pox — Her recovery^- Facetious observations — Accepts the office of sponsor to Charles IX. 's infant — Scene in the privy council — Love letter from Alen9on to Elizabeth — Asks permission to vbit her ^-She demurs — Court gossip — Favours the Earl of Oxford — Interferes in hb quarrel with Sir Philip Sidnejr— Her progress in Kent, &c. — Her vbit to Canterbury — Feasted by the Archbishop of Canterbury — Treats with the French envoy — Dinner at St. Austin's Hall — Her visit to Sandwich — Entertained by mayor's wife, &c. — Surveys the dockyards at Chatham , . . A 31a

CHAPTER VIII

Elizabeth's talents as a peace-sovereign— Renews the treaty with AIen9on— Plans an interview with him — Her progresses— Her new year's gifts — Receives three night-caps from the Queen of Scots— Elizabeth's anger at Henry III.'s marriage — Note to her eodson — Anecdotes of her private life — ^Her costume — Presents from her courtiers — Losses in her wardrobe — Her persecutions — Her visit to Keuilworth — Offered the soverei^ty of the Netherlands — Progress into Suffolk, &c. — Her letters of condolence — Her vbit to Norwich — Harsh usage of her host at Euston Hall — Her favour to the envoy of Alen^n— She excites Leicester's jealousy— Discovers Leicester's marriage — Her anger — Fancies she b bewitched — Her council deliberate on her tooth-acneogle xii Contents

Incognito ^sit of Alengon {now Anjou) — The council oppose Elizabeth's marriaee with him — Her irritation, anxiety, and demurs — Characteristics of Elizabeth — Her habit of swearing — Discrimination of character — Her patronage of Drake — Her letter to Sir Edward Stafford — Second visit of Anjou to England — Elizabeth's loving demeanour to him — Her ladies oppose the marriage — Eliza^th's fondness for Anjou— Accompanies him part of his journey homewards — Her love-verses — Regrets for his loss — Her interview with Edmund Campian — Her letter to Burleigh — Her maids of honour — Her illegitimate brother. Sir J. Perrot — His insolent speeches regarding her — She refuses to sign his death-warrant — Her cruel usage of Ireland • . /. 363

CHAPTER IX

Evil conaequences to Elizabeth from the detention of Mary Queen of Scots — Real and pretended plots against Elizabeth's life — Her parsimony — Walsingham's letter of expostulation — Altercation between Elizabeth and the Archbishop of St. Andrew's and other Scotch ambassadors — Hard treatment of the Earls of Northumberland and Arundel — Her enmity to Lady Arundel — Takes offence with Leicester— Her angry speeches of him, and stern letter to him — Quarrels with Burleigh — Leicester's jealousy of Raleigh — First notice of Essex— Charles Blount attracts Elizabeth's notice — Scandals respecting her regard for him — Elssex's jealousy — Morgan and Babington's conspiracy — ^Elizabeth's peril — Queen of Scots implicated— Her removal to Fotheringaye — Elizabeth's letter to Paulet — Proceedings against Mary— Elizabeth's irritation — Her levity — Angry reply to the French ambassador— Petitioned by parliament to put Mary to death-zHfiLSPefigh— Subsequent irresolution — She hints at secret murder— Leicester su^gestspoiSSP-Remonstrances of the King of France — Stormy scenes between Elizabeth and French ambassadors — Maryjs sentence published — Her letter to Elizabeth, and its effects — Remonstrances of Bellievre in behalf of Mary — Elizabeth's haughty letter to the King of France — Her scornful treatment of the Scotch ambassadors — Crooked policy of her ministers — Pretended plot against her life — Excited state of her mind — Her irresolution — Scenes between her and Davison — She signs Mary's death-warrant — Her jest on the subject — Her demurs — Elamest desire of Mary's assassination — Commands Davison to proi>ose it to Paulet — Her dream— Her angler at Paulet's scruples— Dark hints of employing an agent of her own — Manner in which she receives the news of Mary's execution — She rates her ministers and council — Disgrace of Davison — Queen's excuses to the French ambassador — Charges the blame on her ministers — Hypocritical letter to the King of Scots — ^She brines Lady Arabella Stuart into notice— Pope Sixtus V. commends her spu-it, but proclaims a crusade against her /. 434

CHAPTER X

Renewed influence of the Earl of Leicester with Elizabeth — ^An impostor pretends to be their son— Hostile proceedings of Spain— Philip II. sends an insulting Latin tetrastic to Elizabeth— Her witty reply — The Armada — Female knight made by Queen Elizabeth—The queen's prayer— Her heroic deportment- Leicester's letter to her^Her visit to the camp at Tilbury — Enthusiasm of her subjects — Defeat and dispersion of the Spanish fleet— Medals struck on the occasion— Death of Leicester— His legacy to the queen— She distrains his goods— Elizabeth goes in state to St. Paul's, to return thanks for the defeat of the Armada— Her popularity— Way of life— Her love of history— Characteristic traits and anecdotes of Elizabeth — Margaret Lambrun's attempt on her life— Her magnanimity— Religious persecutions— Her imperious manner to the House of Commons— Arbitrary treatment of the Earl of Arundel— Her love for Essex, and jealousy of Lady Mary Howard— The escapade of Essex — Joins the expedition to Lisbon— His return— Increasing fondness of the queen— Her anger at his marriage — His temporary disgrace, and expedition to France — Elizabeth's letter to Henry IV., describing Essex's character— Her political conduct with regard to France— Takes offence with Henry- Her fierce letter to hitfi— She favours the Cecil party— Sur Robert Cecil's flattery to the queen— Her progress— Splendid entertainment at Elvetham— Her unkind treatment of Hatton— Endeavours to atone for it in his last illness— His death— Angry expressions against Essex to the French ambassador — Recals him home— His expostulation— She insists on his return— He sends Carey to her— Essex returns— Their reconciliation— Elizabeth visits Oxford and Ricote— Her friendship for Lady Norris A 5^3

Contents xiii

CHAPTER XI

Favooritism of "Essex — Qneen violates the privileges of parliament — Her severe letter to Henry IV. on his change of creed — Her theological stndies-^TransIates Boethius — Supposed plot against her life hy Lopez— Her letter to Henry IV. in hehalf of the son of Don Antonio, of Portugal— Her persecution of the Puritans— Henry IV. and her portrait — Court gossip and intrigues— Loyal pageantry, f£tes, and costly presents to the queen— Her sagacious conduct to her maternal kindred— Disgrace of Robert Carey— His attempts to propitiate the queen— Her stormy interview with him on his return from Scotland— Their reconciliation— Her rage at Raleigh's marriage— Her reception of Dr. Rndd'a sermon — Her parsimony, and abridgment of naval and militarjr supplies-;- Quarrels with Essex— Her jealousy of the air Bridges— Essex's expedition to Spain — His loving letter to the queen-H^rowing influence of the lord admiral — ^She creates him Earl of Nottingham— Essex's discontent— She makes him E^l Marshal — Her spirited retort to the Polish ambassador — E^ssex tries to bring his mother to court — Queen's reluctance to receive her — Essex carries his point — Dispute in council between the qjueen and Essex — She boxes his ears — His petoalnt behaviour and menaces— He retires from court — Sickness and death of Burleiffh — Elizabeth's grief— Her palaces, dress, and appearance in old age— Elizabeth andT her bishops — Her fickleness of purpose— Facetious remark of a Windsor carter, on her frequent change of mind— Her manner of evading an unwelcome suit • • /. 579

CHAPTER XII

Return of Essex to court— Hollow reconciliation of the queen— She appoints Urn Lord-deputy of Ireland — His despairing letter and melancholy verses — He ^pta to Irelsmd — False reports of Elizabeth's death — Her soliloquy — Continued displeasure with Essex — His unauthorized return — Surprises Elizabeth in her beddiamber — Her apparent reconciliation with him — She alters her manner, and constitutes him a prisoner — ^Hcr increasing ans[er — Proceedings against Ksstx — Intercession of the French court — Her conversation with the French ambassador — Sussex's dangerous illness — "Temporary relentings of the queen — She sends her physician to visit nim — Renewal of h^ anger — Her irritadon touching Hayward's History of Henry IV. of England — Wuhes to have him racked — Bacon's sage remonstrance — ElizabeUi fancies herself identified with Richard II. — Her conversation with Lambarde — Essex's penitential letters— Sends a new year's gift to Elizabeth— His mother tries to see the queen— Sends* presents>-Conversations between her Muesty and Bacon — Essex brought before the council— Elizabeth's assumed ^ety— Passes her time in hunting and sports — Her inward trouble — Her visit to Sir Robert Sidnejr — Elssex's injurious speeches of the oueen. His rash conduct — Endeavours to excite a tumult — Fails — Surrenders himsdf prisoner — His trial and execution — Elizabeth's manner of receiving the news — Scene between her and Sir T. Brown— She goes to Dover- Letters and messages between her and Henry IV.— She tries to induce him to visit her — He sends Sully — Interview between Sully and Elizabeth — Biron's embassy— Queen receives him at Ba«n^^--Retum5 to London — Shews Biron the heads on the Tower— They discuss Essex— ElizabeUi opens her last parliament— Her popular declaration to the Commons — ^Her festivities — Declares herself weary of life— Her regrets for the death of Essex — Melancholy state of her mind — ^Dedining health — ^"lu^atment of Cecil's miniature— His secret correspondence urith the Kine of Scots— Instances of Elizabeth's superstition— Removes to Richmond Palace— Death-bed confession of Lady Nottingham— Elizabeth's anger-^Last scenes of her life— Report of her apparition before death — Last offices of devotion — Her death — Funeral — ^Description other portrait— Harrington's testimonial of her great qualities — Her monument . /. 639

SECOND QUEEN REGNANT OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND

CHAPTER I

BIctb of Elizabeth at Greenwich Palace— Chamber of the Virgins — Remark of her motlieT) Queen Anne Boleyn— Christening — Placed first in the succession — Marriage negotiation with France — Execution of her mother — Elizabeth declared illegitimate — Her governess — Want of apparel— Altered fortunes — Appears at her brother's christening—Her early promise— Education — Her first letter — Patronised by Anne of Cleves and Katharine Howard — Residence with her sister Mary— Offered in marriage to the heir of Arran — Her letter to Queen Katharine Parr — Proficiency in languages — Her early compositions — Her brother's love for her — Shares his studies — Her father's death — Her grief— Wooed by Seymour, the lord admiral— Refuses his hand — Offended at hts marriage with the queen-dowager — Princess Mary invites her to live with her — She resides with Queen Katharine Parr — Her governess, Mrs. Ashley, and Roger Ascham — Freedoms of the admiral — The queen's jealousy — Elizabeth removes to Cheston — Her letters to the queen and admiral — Death and bet^uest of Queen Katharine Parr — The admiral's clandestine courtship of Elizabeth — Injurious reports concerning it — Elizabeth's conferences with Parry—Her governess Ashley sent to the Tower — Examination of Elizabeth — Restraint at Hatfield — Defends her governess — Letter to the Protector — Her confessions — Her governess superseded by Lady Tyrwhit— Disdainful conduct of Elizabeth — She writes again to the Protector — Serious scandals on Elizabeth — She intercedes for her governess — Execution of the admiral — Elizabeth's regard for his memory — ^The ladies of her household.

We now come to the most distinguished name in the annals of female royalty, that of the great Elizabeth, second queen regnant of England. The romantic circumstances of her birth, the vicissitudes of her childhood, and the lofty spirit with which she bore herself, amidst the storms and perils that darkened over her during her sister's reign, invested her with almost poetic interest, as a royal heroine, before her title to the regal succession was ratified by the voice of a generous people, and the brilliant success of her government, during a long reign, surrounded her maiden diadem with a blaze of glory which has rendered her the most popular of our monarchs, and blinded succeeding generations to her faults.

It is not, perhaps, the most gracious office in the world to perform, with strict impartiality, the duty of a faithful biographer to a princess so endeared to national pride as Elizabeth, and to examine, by the cold calm light of truth, the flaws which mar the bright ideal of Spenser's "Glorianna," and Shakespeare's

** Fair vestal throned by tlie west." C^r^nirf]f>

' Digitized by VjOOy IC

Like t)ie wise and popular Augustus Caesar, Elizabeth understood the. importance of acquiring the good will of that class whose, fidendship or enmity goes far to decide the fortunes of princes;- the might of her throne was supported by the pens of the iftaster spirits of the age. Very different might have been .the Records of her reign, if the reasoning powers of Bacon, the "eloquence of Sidney, the poetic talents of Spenser, the wit of .Harrington, and the genius of Shakespeare had been arrayed against her, instead of combining to represent her as the impersonification of all earthly perfection — scarcely, indeed, short of divinity. i

It has been truly said, however, that no man is a hero to his vaiet de €hambre^ and it is impossible to enter into the personal history of England's Elizabeth without shewing that she occasionally forgot the dignity of the heroine among her ladies in waiting, and indulged in follies which the youngest of her maids of honour would have blushed to imitate. The web of her life was a glittering tissue, in which good and evil were strangely mingled, and as the evidences of friend and foe are woven together, without reference to the prejudices of either, or any other object than to shew her as she was, the lights and shades must sometimes appear in strong and even painful i opposition to each other, for such are the inconsistencies of I human nature, such the littlenesses of human greatness. '

Queen Elizabeth first saw the light at Greenwich Palace, the j favourite abode of her royal parents, Henry VI H. and Anne i Boleyn. Her birth is thus quaintly but prettily recorded by the contemporary historian, Hall :— " On the 7 th day of | September, being Sunday, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, the queen was delivered of a faire ladye, on which day the Duke of Norfolk came home to the christening.''

The apartment in which she was bom was hung with tapestry representing the history of holy virgins, and was from that circumstance called the Chamber of the Virgins. When the queen, her mother, who had eagerly anticipated a son, was ^ told that she had given birth to a daughter, she endeavoured, with ready tact, to attach adventitious importance to her infant, by saying to the ladies in attendance :—" They may now, with reason, call this room the Chamber of Virgins, for a virgin is now born in it on the vigil of that auspicious day, on which the Church commemorates the nativity of the Virgin Mary.^'i

Heywood, though a zealous eulogist of the Protestant

1 Leti's Life of Queen Elizabeth. !

Digitized by VjOOglC j principles of Elizabeth, intimates that she was under the especial patronage of the blessed Virgin from the hour of her birth, and for that cause devoted to a maiden life. "The Lady Elizabeth," says he, " was bom on the eve of the Virgin's nativity, and died on the eve of the Virgin's annunciation. Even that she is now in heaven with all those blessed virgins that had oil in their lamps."

Notwithstanding the bitter disappointment felt by King Henry at the sex of the infant, a solemn Te Deum was sung in honour of her birth, and the preparations for her christening were made with no less magnificence than if his hopes had been gratified by the birth of a male heir to the crown.

The solemnization of that sacred rite was appointed to take place on Wednesday, loth of September, the ifourth day after the birth of the infant princess. On that day the Lord Mayor, with the aldermen and council of the city of London, dined together at one o'clock, and then, in obedience to their summons, took boat in their chains and robes, and rowed to Greenwich, where many lords, knights, and gentlemen, were assembled to witness the royal ceremonial.

All the walls between Greenwich Palace and the convent of the Grey Friars were hung with arras and the way strewn with green rushes. The church was likewise hung with arras. Gentlemen with aprons and towels about their necks guarded the font, which stood in the middle of the church, it was of silver and raised to the height of three steps, and over it was a square canopy of crimson satin fringed with gold — ^about it, a space railed in, covered with red say. Between the choir and chancel, a closet with a fire had been prepared lest the infant should take cold in being disrobed for the font. When all these things were ready, the child was brought, into the hall of the palace, and the procession set out to the neighbouring church of the Grey Friars ; of which building no vestige now remains at Greenwich.

The procession began with the lowest rank, the citizens two and two led the way, then gentlemen, esquires, and chaplains, a gradation of precedence, rather decidedly marked, of the three first ranks, whose distinction is by no means definite in the present times; after them the aldermen, and the Lord Mayor by himself, then the privy council in robes, then the peers and prelates followed by the Earl of Essex, who bore the gilt covered basons ; then the Marquis of Exeter, with the taper of virgin wax ; next the Marquis of Dorset, bearing the salt, and the Lady Mary of Norfolk (the betrothed of the young Duke of