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"In a Prince," fays Puttenham, "it is decent to go flowly, and to march with leisure, and "with a certain granditie, rather than gravitie;

as our Soveraine Lady and Mistresse, (Queen Elizabeth,) the very image of majestie and magnificence, is accustomed to do generally, "unless it be when the walketh apace for her "pleasure, or to catch her a heate in the colde "mornings.

"Nevertheless," adds Puttenham," it is not "fo decent in a meaner perfon, as I have ob"ferved in fome counterfeit ladies of the country,

which use it much to their own derifion. This "comeliness was wanting in Queen Marie, (of

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England,) otherwife a very good and honour"able Princeffe, and was fome blemish to the Emperor Ferdinando, a moft noble-minded man, yet fo careleffe and forgetfulle of himself in that behalf, as I have seen him runne up a "pair of ftairs fo fwift and nimble a pace, as

almoft had not become a very meane man, "who had not gone in fome haftie bufineffe. "And in a noble Prince, nothing is more decent "and well-befeeming his greatneffe than to spare "foul fpeeches, for that bredes hatred, and to

let none humble fuitors depart out of their *prefence (as near as may be) discontented."

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VOL. I.

L

Whilft

Whilst the celebrated Spanish Armada hovered about the coast of England in 1588, Queen Eli zabeth made the following fpeech to the officers and foldiers that compofed the camp at Tilbury, which may now be adverted to in the prefent pofture of affairs, when this country has to dread an invafion from the most infidious and most formidable foe with which any country whatever, either from the fatality of human affairs, or from the wretched policy of its Governors, was threatened *:

66 MY LOVING PEOPLE,

"We have been perfuaded by fome that are "careful of our fafety, to take heed how we "commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear "of treachery; but affure you, I do not defire "to live to diftruft my faithful and loving people. "Let tyrants fear; I have always fo behaved "myself, that under God I have placed my "chiefeft ftrength and fafeguard in the loyal "hearts and good-will of my fubjects. And "therefore I am come amongst you at this time,

not as for my recreation or fport, but being "refolved in the midst and heat of the battle to "live or die amongst you all, and to lay down, "for my God, and for my kingdom, and for

* In the fummer of the year 1795.

my

my people, my honour and my blood even in "the duft. I know I have but the body of a "weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart "of a King, and a King of England too; and "think foul fcorn that Parma or Spain, or any "Prince of Europe, fhould dare to invade the "borders of my realms; to which rather than σε any dishonour should grow by me, I MYSELF "will take up arms; I MYSELF will be your "General, Judge, and Rewarder of every one " of your virtues in the field. I know already "by your forwardness that you have deserved "rewards and crowns; and we do affure you,

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on the word of a Prince, they shall be duly "paid you. In the mean time, my Lieutenant"General fhall be in my ftead; than whom "never Prince commanded more noble and

worthy subject; not doubting by your obe"dience to my General, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall fhortly have a famous victory over those ene"mies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people."

Her Majefty, five years afterwards, whilst the fame horrid calamity of war impended, thus fpiritedly addreffed her Parliament, April 10, 1593.

"This kingdom hath had many wife, noble, "victorious Princes: I will not compare with any " of

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"of them for wifdom, fortitude, or any other "virtues; but, faving the duty of a child, that " is not to compare with his father in love, care, fincerity, and juftice, I will compare with any "Prince that ever you had, or fhall have.

"It may be thought fimplicity in me, that all "this time of my reign I have not fought to "advance my territories, and enlarge my domi"nions, for opportunity hath ferved me to do it. "I acknowledge my womanhood and weakness

in that refpect; but though it hath not been "hard to obtain, yet I doubted how to keep the things fo obtained; that hath only held me "from fuch attempts. And I must say, my mind "was never to invade my neighbours, or to "ufurp over any; I am contented to reign over "mine own, and to rule as a just Prince.

wars,

"Yet the King of Spain doth challenge me to "be the quarreller and the beginner of all these in which he doth me the greatest wrong "that can be; for my confcience doth not accufe my thoughts wherein I have done him. the leaft injury; but I am perfuaded in my "confcience, if he knew what I know, he him"felf would be forry for the wrong that he hath

❝ done me.

"I fear

"I fear not all his threatenings; his great "preparations and mighty forces do not ftir

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me; for though he come against me with a

greater power than ever was his Invincible "Navy, I doubt not (God affifting me, upon "whom I always truft) but that I shall be able "to defeat and overthrow him. I have great "advantage against him, for my cause is just.

"I heard fay, when he attempted his last in"vafion, fome upon the fea-coaft forfook their "towns, and flew up higher into the country, "and left all naked and expofed to his entrance. "But I fwear unto you by God, if I knew those "perfons, or any that fhall do fo hereafter, I ❝ will make them know and feel what it is to be ❝so fearful in so urgent a cause,

"The fubfidies you gave me, I accept thank "fully, if you give me your good wills with "them; but if the neceffity of the time and

your prefervations did not require it, I would "refuse them. But let me tell you, that the "fum is not fo much, but that it is needful for "a Prince to have fo much always in her coffers for your defence in time of need, and not to be driven to get it when we should ufe it.

"You that be Lieutenants and Gentlemen of "command in your countries, I require you to "take

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