time, an instance of that unconquerable perseverance which the Queen exerted on certain occasions. Philip persisted in his design; and, with a view to accomplish it more effectually, dispatched into England the Duchess of Parma and the Duchess of Lorraine, whom he commissioned to bring back with them the Princess Elizabeth into Flanders. Philip was in love with the Duchess of Lorraine; and the splendour of her table and retinue, which she was unable to support of herself, made the Queen extremely jealous. She was therefore, whatever her companion might have been, a very improper suitress on this occasion. The Queen would not permit the two Duchesses to visit the Princess at Hatfield; and every moment of their stay gave her infinite uneasiness. But they both soon returned without success 1. Perhaps the growing jealousy of the Queen, a passion which often ends in revenge against the beloved object, might at least have some share in dictating this opposition to Philip. At length the remonstrances of the Queen, and the repeated disapprobation of the Princess, prevailed; and it is certain, whatever Mary's real motives might be, that the proposal was suddenly laid aside. But Mary so far concurred with Philip's measures, as the next year to declare war against France; in which the Duke of Savoy was Philip's chief Commander at the battle and siege of St. Quintin*. As to the King of Sweden, he afterwards, in the year 1561, renewed his addreses to Elizabeth, when she was Queen of England: at which time he sent her a Royal present of eighteen large pyed horses, and two ships laden with riches.5 At the same time, some Stationers of London had published prints of her Majesty Elizabeth and the King of Sweden in one piece. This liberty, as it was called, gave great offence to the Queen, who ordered Secretary Cecil to write to the Lord Mayor of London, enjoining him diligently to suppress all such publications; as they implied an agreement of marriage between their Majesties. Cecil takes occasion to add, "her Majestie hitherto cannot be induced, whereof we have Carte, iii. 338. Philip, while abroad, had shewn her so many marks of indifference, and had trifled with her so frequently about his return to England, that once, in a fit of rage, she tore his picture. Carte, ibid. 329. 3 Yet the public finances were at this time so low, that she could not procure a single vote from her Privy Council for the declaration of war: and she therefore threatened to dismiss them all from the board, and to appoint Counsellors more obsequious. Hume, iii. 391, ed. 4to. Strype, Eccl. Mem. iii. 317. Holinshed, Chron. iii. 1134. col. 1, 2. 5 Strype, Ann. Ref. i. p. 271. cause to sorrow, to allow of any marriadg with any manner of person1." Soon afterwards the King of Sweden was expected to pay the Queen a visit at Whitehall; and it is diverting to observe the perplexity and embarrassment of the Officers of State about the manner of receiving him at Court," the Quenes Majestie being a Maide 2" But she still persisted in those vows of virginity which she had formerly made to Sir Thomas Pope at Hatfield; and constantly refused not only this, but other advantageous matches. One of them was with the Duke D'Alenzon, whom she refused, yet after some deliberation, because he was only a boy of seventeen years of age, and she almost in her fortieth year 3. A husband, I suppose, although a young one, would have been at that time perhaps inconsistent with her private attachments; and the formalities of marriage might have laid a restraint on more agreeable gallantries with the Earl of Essex and others. Bayle' assigns a curious physical reason for Elizabeth's obstinate perseverance in a state of virginity. The four last years of Queen Mary's reign, which the Princess Elizabeth passed at Hatfield with Sir Thomas Pope, were by far the most agreeable part of her time during that turbulent period. For although she must have been often disquieted with many secret fears and apprehensions, yet she was here perfectly at liberty, and treated with a due regard to her birth and expectations. In the mean time, to prevent suspicions, she prudently declined interfering in any sort of business, and abandoned herself entirely to books and amusements 5. The pleasures of solitude and retirement were now become habitual to her mind; and she principally employed herself in playing on the lute or virginals, embroidering with gold and silver, reading Greek and translating Italian. She was now continuing to profess that character which her Brother Edward gave her, when he used to call her his sweet Sister Temperance. But she was soon happily removed to a Reign of unparalleled magnificence and prosperity 7. 7 "Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York, a rigid Catholic, but a person distinguished by the mildness and humanity of his conduct, was appointed Chancellor by Queen Mary upon the death of Gardiner; and held that high office till the conclusion of that Reign; when having . . .. readily proposed Elizabeth to the Parliament as Successor to the Throne, he voluntarily resigned the Seals, and submitting to the sentence of deprivation with the utmost patience, retired to his manor of Cobham in Surrey; where,' says Camden, the Queen, with whom he was in great grace, visited him many times with her kindness.'" He died in 1564. Lodge, vol. I. p. 213. #28 Letter from the Princess ELIZABETH to King EDWARD VI. upon his desiring to have her Picture1. "Like as the rich man that daily gathered riches to riches, and to one bag of money layeth a great sort, till it come to infinite. So methinks your Majesty, not being sufficed with many benefits and gentleness shewed to me afore this time, doth now increase them in asking and desiring, where you may bid and command; requiring a thing not worthy the desiring for itself, but made worthy for your Highness' request. My Picture I mean; in which if the inward good mind toward your Grace might as well be declared, as the outward face and countenance shall be seen, I would not have tarried the commandment, but prevented it, nor have been the last to grant, but the first to offer it. For the face I grant I might well blush to offer, but the mind I shall never be ashamed to present. But though from the grace of the picture the colours may fade by time, may give by weather, may be spited by chance; yet the other, nor Time with his swift wings shall overtake, nor the misty clouds with their lowering may darken, nor Chance with her slippery foot may overthrow. "Of this also yet a proof could not be great, because the occasions have been so small; notwithstanding as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it by deeds, which now I do write them but in words. And, further, I shall humbly beseech your Majesty, that when you shall look on my Picture, you will witsafe to think, that as you have but the outward shadow of the body afore you, so my inward mind wisheth that the body itself were oftener in your presence. Howbeit, because both my so being I think could do your Majesty little pleasure, though myself great good: and again, because I see as yet not the time agreeing thereunto, I shall learn to follow this saying of Horace, Feras non culpes quod vitari non potest. And thus I will (troubling your Majesty I fear), and with my humble thanks; beseeching God long to preserve you to his honour, to your comfort, to the Realm's profit, and to my joy. From Hatfield, this 15th day of May. "Your Majesty's most humble Sister and Servant, ELIZABETH." 1 Copied from the Cotton MSS. Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. II. p. 234. No year, but not long after 1550, in which year Edward VI. made over to Elizabeth the manor of Hatfield Episcopi, alias Regis, late parcel of the possession of the Bishop of Ely. * In the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIX. p. 1186, is engraved a fac-simile of the three concluding lines of a Latin Letter from the Princess Elizabeth to her Royal Brother, with his Autograph, dated "Hatfildiæ, 2° Februarii." *29 The following Letter (taken from a MS.) is not dated; but was evidently written in 1554, whilst the Princess was in gentle durance at Woodstock 1. "GOOD MR. VICE-CHAMBERLAYNE 2. "This messenger, your servant, having geeven me some littell warnyng to waite on you, I have adventured to trouble you with my ill-written Letter, false Englyshe, and matter as littell to be regarded as the profession of her good will that wrote it, who is, herselfe, littell or nothing worthe. Neverthelesse, when I remember your courtesie offered, even then when Fortune most shewed her despight against me, I am persuaded a certaine planet raigned, that then assured me, and so doeth still, that I should receave some good of you, though the stormes of my ill fortune, having shed since, many droppes, vntimely for me, to gather fruyte of your favour. I have nothing to present you with, butt the thought of the harte by the pens descriptions, in what thankfull manner I take your good and kyndlie offer to doo me pleasure, houlding that opinion of your greate vertue, that I have ever conceaved, wch is, that you love faithfull playne deallynge, and hate dissimulation. I am greevouslie sorry for her Matie's heavy displeasure, so kyndled against me, as I heare it is. Yf God will make my prayers worthie to enter into His eares, I will with all lowlynes of mynde, incessantly beseech Hym to prosper her estate; and for my offence, wch shee supposeth to be haynous in her iudgement, and instelie deservynge her disfavour; I appeale to the Highest, that is best able to looke into the bottome of my hart, whether my innocencie have not alwaies dreaded only to conceave so muche as an ill thought of her. God blesse her, and give me grace to serve Him, that by His goodness it may playnely appere vnto her howe uniustly I am afflicted with her disgrace and indignation. It shall make me lesse carefull then I have been (but only for duytie sake) for that lyfe of courtinge: but Countrywoman, or Courtier, as longe as Mr. Vice-chamberlayne will doo me the honor to iudge me worthie to be esteemed an honest poore frende, I will ever, with all honor that any toung can expresse, thinck I doo righte to myselfe in geaving you that weh your vertew deserveth. "Yours, as ever vowed during lyfe, ELIZABETH, Prisoner. "Postt. I hope, Sir, that if a poore pylgryme, wandering in the Parke wth a long bowe, shute at rovers and hitt a buck where the sigue is, and die of it, you will not make it a pretended murther." "On the first day of her journey towards Woodstock, Elizabeth was taken to Richmond. At this place her peculiar servants were dismissed from attendance. On taking leave she called them together, and desired them to pray for her, for this night," said she, “ I think I must die." The servants broke into tears and exclamations, and the Gentlemen Usher went unto the Lord Thame in the Court, desiring him unfeignedly to shew whether his Lady and Mistress that night were in danger of death, whereby himself and fellows might take such part as God would appoint. "Marry, God forbid !" quoth my Lord Williams of Thame, "that any such wickedness should be intended, which rather than it should be wrought, I and my men will die at her feet." Speed. ⚫ Sir Francis Jernegan was Vice-chamberlain to Queen Mary. 1558 Queen Mary died November the seventeenth, 1558, about eleven or twelve o'clock aforenoon. Upon the accession of the new Queen, it does not appear that Sir Thomas Pope was continued in the Privy Council. This circumstance may justly be interpreted to his honour. Elizabeth, to prevent an alarm among the partisans of the Catholic Communion, had prudently retained thirteen of Mary's Privy Counsellors. These were, Heath, Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor ; the Marquis of Winchester, Lord Treasurer; the Earls of Arundel, Shrewsbury, Pembroke, and Derby; the Lords Clinton, and Howard; Sir Thomas Cheyney, Sir William Petre, Sir John Mason, Sir Richard Sackville, and Doctor Wootton, Dean of York and Canterbury1. But most of these had complied with all the changes which were made in the National Religion since the latter end of Henry's reign; and were such dextrous adepts in the fashionable art of adapting their principles to the variable complexion of the times, that they were still employed every new revolution2. in The Lady Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen by divers Heralds of Arms, trumpets sounding, and many of the chiefest of the Nobility present, as the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Treasurer, the Earls of Shrewsbury and Bedford; also the Lord Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen, with many others 3. In the afternoon the bells in all the churches in London rung in token of joy; and at might bonfires were made, and tables set out in the streets, where was plentiful eating and drinking, and making merry. The next day being Friday, it was not thought decent to make public rejoicings, out of respect, I suppose, to the day, being a fasting-day. But on the next, viz. Saturday, November 19, Te Deum Laudamus was sung and said in the churches of London. Thus the satisfaction generally conceived by the people for this new Queen superseded all outward appearances o sorrow for the loss of the old one. The Lady Elizabeth was at her seat at Hatfield when Queen Mary died. Thither some great persons forthwith repaired to her; namely, the Earl of Pembroke; Lord Clinton, Lord Admiral; the Earl of Arundel, Lord Chamberlain; which three, with Sir Thomas Parry, Sir William Cecil, Sir Ambrose Cave, Sir Ralph Sadleir (who was sent from the Lords at London), and Sir Richard Sackville, 'Burnet, Reformat. ii. 375. • Thus far principally from Waron's Life of Sir Thomas Pope What follows, is taken partly from Strype, and partly from Holinshed; which occasions some slight repetitions. |