A PATTERN OR PRESIDENT FOR PRINCES TO Rule By, AND FOR SUBJECTS TO OBEY BY.  
TOGETHER With the rare Example of Subjects tender and singular Care for the Life and Safety of their sovereign; AS Also for the continuance of sound and Orthodox Religion in the Church, and the well-grounded and tempered Government of the Common-wealth.  
LONDON, Printed for William Miller at the guilded Acorn in St. Pa●ls Church-Yard Where you may be furnished with most sorts of Bound or Stitched Books, as Acts of Parliament, Proclamations, Speeches, Declarations, Letters, Orders, Commissions, Articles of War or Peace, As also Books of Divinity, Church-Government, Sermons on most occasions, and most sorts of Histories, Poetry, plays, and such like. &c. 1680.   

A LIVELY CHARACTER OF THE most Renowned Queen ELIZABETH, AS It was drawn by a Noble, and Learned Pen of one that was bread under her from his Youth, to her Death.  
Will you please to red the Character of this our English Deborah. as it was written, and left upon Record by a Learned Gentleman who was bread under her from his Youth, and continued in her Service to her Death.  
THis rare Princess( saith he) even while she was a Subject, left patterns that might instruct all Subjects, rather to undergo the indignation of their sovereigns with the Birth-right of Duty, than with the mutiny of oversensible and Rebellious Affections( which ever, like diseased pulses, beat faster or slower than they should, to show all to be affencted about them;) whereas this Lady, in the like strains, by an humble and constant Temper, had already with true obedience triumphed over the curious Examinations of ascending Flattery, or descending Tyranny, even in the tender point of Princes Successions.  
And to make this manifest to be of choice, not chance, even when her step-mother, Misfortune, grew ripe for delivery, then was she neither born crying, as Children be; nor yet by the sudden change from a Prison to a Palace, came she upon that Stage confusedly, barking against all that had offended her: But like one born to behold true Light, instantly fixed her thoughts upon larger Notions than Revenge, or Favour. And in the Infancy of her Reign, she called for Benefield her hard-hearted jailer, and bad him enjoy, not a deserved, but free-given Peace, under his narrow Vine; with this assurance, that whensoever she desired to have Prisoners over-severely treated, she would not forget to commit the custody of them to his charge.  
Again, for the next Object, looking backward upon her Sisters Reign, she found Religion changed: Persecution( like an evil weed) suddenly grown up to the highest: The Mercies of God prescribed by abridgement of time, and by adding Torments to the Death of his Creatures: Salvation published in many more Creeds than she had been taught to believe: A double Supremacy in one Kingdom; Rome being the Emperor of the Clergy, and by bewitching the better half of Man,[ the Soul] challenging both our Clergy and Laity the style belonging to the great God, Rex Regum & Dominus Dominantium, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  
This consideration brought forth in her a Vow, like to that of the Godly Kings in the Old Testament, namely, That she would neither hope, nor seek for Rest in the Mortal traffic of this world, till she had repaired the precipitate ruins of her Saviours Militant Church through all her Dominions, and( as she hoped) in the rest of the World by, her example: upon which Prince like Resolution, this our She-David ventured to undertake the great goliath among the Philistius abroad; to wit, Spain, and the Pope: Whose multitude, not of men only, but of Hosts, she despised, and scornfully rejected that Holy Fathers wind-blown Superstition, taking the( almost solitary) Truth for her Leading-Star.  
Yet did she not tear the lions Jaws in sunder at once, but began moderately with her own Changelings: She gave the Bishops a proper motion, but bounded and limited, and to the Nobility time to reform themselves with inward and outward Counsel. She revived her Brothers Laws for establishing of the Church Doctrine and Discipline, but moderates their severity of proceeding; giving to Frailty and Sects time to reform: And in the mean season she supplied the Prince of Conde with Men and Money, as being chief among the Protestants of France. She gathered and called home from Exile the scattered Hosts of our Israel. She took enliven in France, perhaps with hopes of redeeming Calice, to the end that her axle trees might once again lie upon both Shores as her right did. She refused Marriages, reformed, and redeemed Queen Maries Vanities, who, first glorying in the Spanish Seed, published that she was with Child, and instantly offered up the Royal supposed Issue of hers, together with the absolute Government of all her Natives, to the mixed Tyranny of Rome, and Castile. And hereupon King Philip took the liberty to exhaust her Treasure to his own ends; Breaks our League with France; and in the breach, shakes the Sacred foundation of the rest: Wins St. Quintins, while we lost Calice.  
Contrary to all which thought-bound councils of her Sister Maries, Queen Elizabeth, though as yet not out of danger of her Romish Subjects at home; threatened with their mighty Faction, and Party abroad; pestered besides with wanting of Money, and with many binding Laws of her Sisters making; yet like a Palm-tree, under all these burdens, she, like an Heroical Princess, raised her self. And upon notice of her Agents disgrace in Spain, his Servants being cast into the Inquisition; her Merchants surprised in America, contrary to the League made by Charles the fifth, and our King Henry the eighth, which gave free traffic, In omnibus & singulis Regnis, Dominiis, insulis, &c. notwithstanding that Astronomical, or rather, biased, Division of the World, by the Popes Lines, which( contrary to the nature of other Lines) only kept Latitude for the Advantage of Spain; She( I say) upon these insolences, receives the Hollanders, and protects them from the Persecutiou of the Duke d' Alva, and settled these poor Refugees in Norwich, Colchester, Sandwich, Maidston, and South hampton.  
Yea again; when this Faith-distinguishing Duke appealed to her self; she binding her self strictly to the words of her Contract, required these afflicted Strangers to depart. Their number was great, and the time allotted but short, and yet their weather beaten Souls were so sensible of the long continued oppressions in their Civil Liberties, and Consciences, as that in their passage they surprised Brill, Flushing, and divers other Towns, and expulsed the Spaniards out of them; and by this brave example taught and proclaimed a way of freedom to all wellaffected Princes, and Provinces that were oppressed.  
Here also the Reader may observe, that when King Henry the third of France( who was one in the same League) demanded whether mutual defence against all extended to the cause of Religion? She presently answered, that She both treated and concluded in the same sense; And if it were required at her hands, She would perform every branch of it to her uttermost. The French hereupon made war against the Protestants: and Monsieur, his Brother, secretly protected them by Duke Casimire.  
Again, about that time, at the request of the Spanish King, She guarded his Navy into Flanders, where it being lost, and she again being requested by the same King, to lend him her own Ships, for the recovery of the maritime Towns which were fallen from him, this Blessed Lady, both denied this crafty request of a Conqueror, and withall providently refused to harbour any of his Ships in her Ports. Yet in honour of her ancient League with the House of Burgundy, she published the like inhibition, to her beloved and safe Neighbours, the Neatherland. And instantly, with a strong judgement in balancing of foreign Princes, she persuaded the King of Spain to make Peace with the Hollanders; And on the other side she dissuaded those distressed Hollanders from joining with the French.  
Besides, it is worthy of reverence in this Queen, that she never was afraid, nor ashamed to aver the quarrel of Religion for a ground of her Friends or Enemies. She made a public League for defence of Religion, with the King of Scots, Denmark, and the Princes of Germany She banished all Jesuits and Seminary Priests by an Act of Parliament: Made it Felony to harbour any of them in England, or for the English to sand any of their Children beyond the Seas, to be trained up in Popery.  
Upon the loss of Antwerp, she resolutely undertook the Protection of the netherlands; and to distracted the Spaniards, she sent Drake to the West Indies with twenty one Ships, who surprised Domingo, and Cartag●na. And presently after his return with much spoil, and in triumph( to prevent all possibility of Invasion from Spain) she sent him again to Sea with commission to burn all Ships, Gallies and Boats along the Spanish Coasts: In which Voyage he broke through divers Spanish Gallies in the Bay of Cales, which were appointed to withstand him. He took, burnt, and sunk a hundred Sail, which were richly laden with Ammunition, and Provisions. From thence in his Passage to scape St. Vincent he surprised three Forts: Burnt divers Ships, Fisher-Boates and their Nets. And then sailing to the Azores Islands, he there took a great carack, coming from the East-Indies.  
The next year,( as treading in Sr. Francis Drake's steps) Captain Cavendish returned from his Journey about the World with the spoil of nineteen Spanish Ships, and of many small Towns in America.  
This and such like Providence did this Miracle of Princes use in all her Wars, by which ways her wars maintained her wealth, and that wealth supplied her Wars: So that she came ever in State when she demanded aid from the House of Commons. Neither did she fetch or force Presidents from her Predecessors in those demands; but made her self a President to all Posterities, that the love of People to a loving Princess is ever even balanced.  
Neither did she ever by any curious search, seek to enlarge her Prerogatives Royal, lest thereby she should touch her Subjects in Parliament( by the like self affections) to make as curious an inquisition among their Records, to colour any encroaching upon the Circles of Monarchy. She would not call out of the House of Commons by Writ, to the House of Lords during the Session; wherein one Mans sudden advancement commonly proves an object of envy to four hundred his equals: Neither would she imprison or release any unjudicially; sometimes striving to master the multitude by the Nobility, and to balance the Nobility by the multitude, all marks of a diseased, not of a healthful estate in a Monarchy. All which she providently avoided.  
Thus this Blessed and Blessing Lady with a calm mind, as well in quiet as in stirring times, studied how to keep her Ancient underground buildings upon their first well-laid Foundations: And if she found that any strayed, she sought rather to reduce them back to their Original Circuits than to suffer a step to be made over or besides those well-constituted and time authorized Assemblies. And by this Policy she ever came upon the Stage, not as a Petitioner, but as a Commander: Hereby she preserved her State above the affronts of the Nobility or People; and became a sovereign Judge over any undutiful or encroaching Petitions either of Nobles, or Commons. She prudently judged that a steady hand in the Government of sovereignty, would ever prove more prosperous than any nimble or witty practise, crafty shuffling or imperious forcing humours could possibly do.  
Again, in the latitude which some Modern Princes allow to their favourites, as supporters of Government, and middle walls between Power and the Peoples envy, it seems this wise Queen ever kept entrenched within her Native Strengths and sceptre. And this experienced Governess of ours made known to the World, by a constant Series in her actions, that she never was, nor ever would be over loaden with any such excess in her Person, or defects in her Government, as might constrain her to support by a Monopolous use of Favourites, as if she would make any greater than her self to Govern by them. And she was so far off from any numbness in Religion that the unexpected apostasy of King Henry the fourth of France, fell fatally upon him( as she judged) by the weakness of his Predecessor, King Henry the third, and the dissolute miscarriages of his favourites; who, like Lapwings, with the Shells of Authority about their necks, were let loose to run over all the branches of his Kingdom, misleading Governors, Nobility and People from the steady and mutual rest of Laws, Customs, and other ancient wisdoms of Government, into the Wilderness of Ignorance and violence of Will. Among which defects, all fundamental changes( especially of Religion) in Princes, would be found( as she conceived) the true Discipline of Atheism among their Subjects; all Sacrifices( Obedience excepted) being but dear-bought knowledges of the Serpent, to drive Kings and People once again out of Mediocrity, the reciprocal Paradise of mutual human Duties: Prophetically concluding, that whosoever will sell God to purchase Earth by making the Eternal Unity of many shapes, must in the end make him of none; and be forced with loss, contempt and danger to traffic, not for an Heirs place, but a younger Brother's in that Church at whose wide Gates he had( with shane enough) already entred in; and under conditions of a Servant rather than a Son, be constrained for his first step to set up the Jesuits Faction, providently suppressed by himself before, and therein to shake the Sorb●nists, who, in all times were faithful supporters of Crown-Soveraignty against those Slave▪ making Commissioners between▪ the Spaniard and his, Chaplain, the Pope.  
Nay, yet with a greater show of ingratitude, his next step must be to suppress those humble Souls, who had long supported him whilst he was King of navarre, against Rome. Lastly, to show that no Power can rest upon a steep place, he must precipitately be forced to sand Ambassadors to Rome,( with his Sword in his Scabbard) serveily begging Mercy and grace of such irreconciled Enemies, whose endless ends of Spiritual and Temporal Supremacy( this Queen knew) would never forgive any Heavenly Truth, or Earthly Power that should oppose their Combinations.  
In her household Affairs she kept the like equal hand, balancing the sloth of her great Stewards, and white staves, with the providence, and reservedness of a Lord Treasurer. She kept up▪ Tables for Servants, suitors, and for Honour-sake in her own House. Not suffering public Places to be made particular Farms of private Men, or the Honour of her household to be carried into theirs. And withall, by the same Reverend Auditors she watched over the nimble Spirits, self-seeking, or large-handedness of her active Secretaries: Examining their intelligence, Money, Packets, Bills of Transportation, Propositions of State, which they offered up by their places, together with suits of other Nature, in her Wisdom still severing the deep business from the specious, but narrow selfishness of inferior Officers.  
Besides, All these were examined by grave Magistrates, who having been formerly of her Majesties Treasure in the Secretaries Places, did now worthily become Governors of her Finances, as best able to judge between the selfishness of place, or Person, and the real necessity of her State and Kingdom. This was a fine art of Government, by well chosen Ministers successively, to wall in her Exchequer from vast expense of many things, especially upon foreign Ambassadors, which( she knew) could neither bring reverence nor thankfulness to their sovereign.  
The answer which this Majestical Lady gave to the Polish Ambassador is never to be forgotten, namely, That she expected a Treating Ambassador, But he proved( as she  told him) a defying Herald. This she said at an instance to show how sensible Princes should be of Indignities; and how ready to put off such sudden affronts without the prompting of Councellors.  
But to go on with her domestic Affairs. How provident was she, out of the like caution, and to the same ends, that even he that oversaw the rest might have his own greatness overseen, and limited too. Whereupon she forgot not to alloy that vast Power and Jurisdiction of her Treasurers Office, with inferior Officers of her Finances; and perchance under an active Favourites eye, kept her own. Besides, she watched and checked him in his Marriage made with Paulet his Predecessor, and reserved that Mans accounts, and arrears, as a Rod over his Grandchilds Alliance: Yea, she qualified and brought the Fines of his many and great Coppy-holds to easy rates, and would never suffer any proposition to take hold of uniting the duchy of Lancaster to her Exchequer, what narrow reasons soever were alleged of sparing, and cutting off the multiplicity of Officers with their ways and ignorances or corruptions, all chargeable and cloudy paths, which the dealings with Princes Money doth as naturally bring forth as Africa doth monsters. But like a provident sovereign, knowing that place in Monarchy must help as well to train up Servants, as to reward and encourage merit, she constantly( to that end) kept that Chancellor-ship-gain of the duchy entire, and would not make the rewarding part of her Kingdom less, to over-lade her Exchequer with any addition of instrumental gain amongst under-Officers, into whose Barns, for the most part, those Harvests are brought.  
Again, by the same caution in all her doings, she made merit precious, Honour dainty, and her graces passing rare, keeping them to set an edge upon the Industry of Men, and yet sparing reserved within the Circuit of her Throne, as inherent and tender Prerogatives, not fit to be left at random in the power of ambitious Favourites, or Low-looking Counsellors, whose ends are seldom so large, or safe for the public, as the native Princes Counsels are, or ought to be.  
For her Clergy, with their Ecclesiastical or Civil Jurisdiction, She fashioned the Arches, and Westminster Hall to take such care one to bound another that therein limiting themselves, enlarged their Royalties, as the chief, and equal foundations of both their greatnesses. She gave the superior places freely, lest by her Example she should teach them to commit simony with their inferiors, and so to add Scandal instead of reputation to the word of God, whose▪ allowed Messengers they affect to seem.  
Her Parliaments she used, both to supply her necessary expended Treasure, and withall, as Maps of Orders or Disorders through her whole Kingdom. In which reverend body, she studied not to make Parties, or Factions by advancing any present Royalist in the House of Commons, to stir up envy against her self among all the rest, and so publish the Crown to use personal practise of hope or fear, in these General Councils of her Kingdom; but by forbearing art, was never troubled with any artificial Brick walls from them; so as their need and fears concurring with her occasions, made their desires and counsels concur too, and out of those equal and common grounds forced every man to believe that his private Fish-ponds could not be safe whilst the public State of the Kingdom stood in danger of present or approaching exremities.  
Her Council Table( as an abridgement of all other Jurisdictions) she held up in due honour: She Propounded not her great businesses of State to them with any prejudicate resolutions, which if once discovered, suppresseth, both the freedom of Spirit and of judgement: But used to open her self clearly, to hear them with respect, to observe Number and Reason in their voices; and then to extract a quintessence out of all their concords or discords within her self, from whence the resolutions and directions came suddenly, and secretly forth for execution.  
To be short, She kept awe stirring over all her Courts, and other employments, as her Antidote against any further necessity of punishments. In which Arts of Men and Government, her Nature, Education, and long Experience had made her to become excellent above both Sexes.  
Again, for the Regiment of her Grandees at home, She did not suffer her Nobility to be Servants one to another, nor did her Gentry wear their Liveries as in former Ages they had done. Their number, and wealth was moderate, and their Spirits and Power counterpoised with her Majesty, from being Authors of any new Barons Wars, and yet reserved, as brave half-paces between the Throne and the People.  
Her yeomanry, a state under her Nobles, and above her Peasants( proper to England) she maintained in their abilities, and never gave them cause to suspect that she had any intent with any extraordinary Taxes out of the course of Parliaments, insensibly to impoverish, and make Boors of them, or Slaves of them; knowing that such a kind of Champian country would quickly stir up the Nobility itself to become doubtful of their own Fences, and by consequence in danger, not only of holding their Lives, Lands, Goods, and Liberties at their sovereigns indefinite pleasure, but by suspense of those Nursing and Protecting Parliaments, to have all other Native Birth rights, namely, Pulpits, Laws, Customs, voices of Appeal, Audits of Trade, Humble and Reverend mention of Coronation-Oaths, legal publishers and maintainers, true maps of Diseases, and Cures through her Kingdom, with many other Cements of Honour and use, between sovereigns and Subjects, like to be confounded, or at least Metamorphosed into Prerogative Taxes, wherein, neither have the People Voices, nor valuable returns made them for their Money.  
But this home-born Princess of ours, making her Prospect over these Wildernesses of Will and Power, providently for her self, and happily for her People, refused the broad branch of Pythagoras's Y, and choose that narrower, but safer medium of State-Assemblies, concluding that those two Honourable Houses▪ were the only judicious, faithful, and industrious Favourites of un-incroaching Monarchy.  
Hence it appears that she did not affect, nor yet would be drawn( like many of her ancient Neighbours the French Kings) to have her Subjects to give away their wealth after a new Fashion: to wit, without return of Pardons, ease of Grievances, or comfort of Laws, lest her loving People might thereby think that insensibly they should be brought into Bondage as Slaves, or Conquered outlaws, to the great dishonour to the Legal and Royal State of Monarchical Government. From which Example, we which live after this excellent Lady, may, with great Honour to her Ashes, resolve, that she would have been as averse from bearing the envy of Printing any new▪ Lines of Taxes, Impositions, Proclamations, or Mandates( without Parliaments) upon her Ancient, celestial, or Terrestrial Globes, as her humble Subjects possibly be, or wish her to be.  
And surely the reason of cutting between Laws, Kings Powers, and Peoples Liberties by so even a Thread, could be no other but a long and happy descent within the Pedigree of active Princes, together with the moderate education of Kings Children in those times: Or lastly, in a Quintessence of abilities gathered out of those Blessed, and Blessing mixtures of Nature, Education, and practise, which never fail to lift up Man above Man, and keep him there, more than Place or Power, shall by any other encroaching advantages be ever able to do.  
In which Map, as in a true Perspective-glass, this provident Princess, seeing both her own part and her Peoples so equally, nay, so advantageously already divided and disposed, she thought it both wisdom and justice to leave them balanced, and distinguished as she found them. Knowing, that if she should do otherwise, she should bring trouble upon her State, for want of Reverence at home, and should provoke this heavy censure through all the World( Spain only excepted) that she endeavoured the raising of an invisible Tyrant above the Monarch; and to that end had made this step over the Laws, and Customs, into such a dangerous kind of ignorant and wandring confusion, as would quickly enforce Mankind, either to live like exhausted Creatures, deprived of Sabbaths, or like the barren Earth without the privilege of a Jubilee, which would have transformed her People into divers shapes of Beasts, wherein they must lose Freedom, Goods, Fortune, Language, and Kind, and all at once.  
And if Princes will be induced to use these racks of wit and Power indefinitely, and thereby force a Free People into a despairing estate, they must either in the pride of their Government, look in some sort to be forced again, either to Sacrifice these Empsons and Dudleys( as the most popular Act which Princes can do) or else with the two-edged Sword of Tyranny, irregularly to climb a degree yet higher than the Truth, to maintain these caterpillars, in eating, or offering up Religion, Laws, &c. to the Covetous, Cruel, or wanton excesses of encroaching Tyranny, as though God had made all the World for one Man.  
Yea more, it pleased this Provident Queen even curiously to foresee what face her Estate was like to carry, if these biased humours should continue any long Reign over us, to wit, Contempt to be cast upon the Crown, Fear among the People, Hate and envy against the Reverend Magistrates, enticement of domestic Spirits unto mutiny, or Foreign to invade upon any occasion; the Court itself becoming a Farm, manured by drawing up, not the sweat, but even the brows of the humble Subject: And lastly, the Council-Table( that glorious Type of Civil Government) compelled to descend, and become Broker for Money, the Executioner of Extremity, better acquainted with the Merchant, or Mechanical scraping Revenues of sick and exhausted Kingdoms, than with foreign Treaties, equal balances of Trade, true grounds of Manufactures, mysteries of Importation and Exportation, differing Strengths and Weaknesses of Crowns, alteration▪ of Factions, or Parties with advantage, danger of Alliances made to the benefit of the stronger; the( steady though sometimes intermittent) undertakings of the Conqueror, with all things else that concern Magnalia Regni, and so apt instruments, not reverently to show Princes the Truth, but rather self-loving Creatures full of servile flattery, even to the main of that Estate wherein they have, and enjoy their honours.  
Which confusion of place and things being clearly foreseen by her, made this prudent Lady to restrain the slavish liberties of Transcendency, within Laws and Parliaments, as two unbattered Rampires against all over-wrestings of Powers, or Mutinies of People, and out of these grounds to conclude[ Prince▪ like] with her Fore-Fathers, that Superstructiones Antiquae nec facile evertuntur, nec solae ruunt. In this axiom making manifest to the World, that young and unexperienced Capacities are much too narrow Moulds for any large Branches of well founded Monarchies to be altered, or new fashioned in; the New and old seldom matching well together, let the Cement of seeming Wisdom of either side appear never so equal.  
Now if we descend to inferior Functions, we there find her( like a working Soul in a healthful body) still, all in all, and all in every part. For with the same restraining Providence, she kept the Crown from necessity to use Imperial and chargeable Mandates upon her People, when she had most need of their Service, contrary to the wisdom of all Government. Neither did she, by mistaking, or misapplying Instances( gathered out of the fatal Conquests of her Ancestors) Parallel her present need, and Levies with theirs; But wisely considered that the King and the People were then equally Possessors of both Realms, and so in all Impositions contributers to themselves at first hand.  
And when by her Itinerant Judges and Justices of the Peace in every County, she was well informed of the abilities of her Subjects, and her Enemies threatenings, she then, by the advice of her Privy Council, summoned her Parliament, demanded aid, and never was denied; in return of which loving and free gifts, she laid out those extraordinary helps in repairing and provisional supplying of her Forts along the Coasts, with offensive and defensive Ammunitions. Also she stored her Office of the Ordnance, as a Royal Magazine to furnish the whole Kingdom in times of extremity. Yea, when there were no Wars, yet she kept them full, as an equal pledge of Strength and Reputation, both abroad and at home.  
Lastly, this Prudent and provident Princess, being confident( under God) in these Native Sea-walls of ours, fit to bear moving Bulwarks in martial-times: As also in Civil traffics to carry out and in, all Commodities with advantage; she double-stored her Navy Magazeens with all materials provided before-hand with such works and things as required time, and could not be bought suddenly with Money. Besides, she furnished her Sea Arsinals with all kind of Staple-Provisions, as Ordnance, Pitch, Rosin, Tar, Masts, Deal Boards, Cordage, &c. for the building and maintaining of her Navy, flourishing in multitudes of Ships, both for War, and Trade.  
And( as the life of that vast body) she, for the increase of mariners gave Princely countenance to all long Voyages, well knowing that they would necessary require great Ordnance, new Ammunition, and Ships of Burden. Also, the farther to encourage this long-breathed work, she added out of her Exchequer, an allowance of so much in the Tun to the builders of any Ships upward of so many hundred tons. She also cherished Fisher-Boats with privileges along her Coasts, as Nurseries of Sea-men. She brought Green▪ Land. and New-found-Land Fishing in reputation, to increase her stock of mariners, both by their taking and transporting of what they took afar off.  
And for Governors of her Navy, under the Admiral, as well in times of Peace as War, She choose her Principal Officers out of the Gallantest Sea-Commanders of that time, whose experience she knew, taught them how to husband and guide her Muscovy Company in General Provisions, not as Partners with her Merchants in building, but restraining the Shipkeepers Riot, or expense in Harbour and at Sea; How to furnish, or marshal Ships and mariners, in all kind of Sea-fights for the best advantage.  
Besides, through the same mens Judgments, she made all directions to pass for the divers Moulds required in Shipping between our Seas and the Ocean, as the drawth of water, high or low disposing of Ports, cleanly rooms for Victuals, convenient Decks for Fight or Trade, safe conveyance for Powder, and all other Ammunitions, fit Stowage for Sea-Stores, according to the differences of heat or could in the Climates they were to abide in, or to pass through.  
Again, as well to instruct the Captains in their particular duties, as also to keep a hand of Government over the large trust and charge committed, in all expeditions, the Ship with her Furniture, Tacklings, and Men; the Gunners Room with all Ammunition of that kind; the Boatswains provision of Anchors, Cables, Canvas, and Sea-stores: The Pursers, Stewards, and Cooks-Rooms, touching victuals, were delivered to the Captains by Bill indented: The one part being kept with the Officers of the Navy at home, the other was given into the hands of every private Captain, to examine his accounts by at his return.  
Lastly, this great Governess could tell how to work her highest Admirals, without noise, to resign their Patents, when the course of time made them in Power, and gain, seem, or grow too exorbitant: Yet she kept up their Command at Sea, and when they were there, made them a limited, or absolute Commission under the great Seal of England; sometimes associating, and qualifying their place with a council of War of her own choosing, and ever guiding the generalities of their Voyage with instructions proper to the business, and to be published at Sea in a time prefixed.  
The Merchant part of her Kingdom was oppressed with few impositions: The Companies were free to choose their own Officers, to fashion their Trade, who were also assisted with the Name, and Countenance of her Ambassadors, The Customs and return of their Industry and Adventures, contenting them in a free Market, without any near cutting of her Peoples Industry to the quick.  
The Flushingers and Dunkirkers for a time did much afflict her Peoples traffics, though with small strength; whereupon she first laboured to suppress them by force; but finding the charge to be vast, and the remedy casual, she joined Treaty with the Sword, and by that means set her Seas once again at liberty from all molestation and danger of pirates.  
Her Universities were troubled with few Mandamuses: The colleges were free in all their Elections, and governed by their own Statutes: The gross neglect of using the Latin Tongue, she studied to reform, as well for the Honour of the Universities, as for her own Service, in all Treaties with foreign Ambassadors and Poinces: she studied to multiply her Civilians with little charge, and yet better allowance to their Profession.  
In a Word, She preserved her Religion without wavering: Kept both her marshal and Civil Government entire, above neglect▪ or practise; by which( with a multitude of like instances) she manifested to the World, that the well governing of Princes own inheritances, is( in the clear house of famed) superior unto all the far-noised Conquests of her over-griping Ancestors.  
Yet as this wise and moderate Governess was far from encroaching upon any other Princes Dominions, so neither wanted she foresight, courage, nor Power, both to suppress all insolences attempted against her self, and to support her Neighbours, who were unjustly oppressed. For she had no sooner perfected her Virgin▪ Triumph over the Pope-hallowed invincible Navy, and by that loss published the Spanish Ambition to be but weakness and malice, to all Christendom; Secured her own Estate, revived the Neather-Lands, confuted the Pope, turned the Cautiousness of the Italian Princes the right way, and amazed the World, but even then, to pursue the Victory, and to prevent her Enemies Ambition, which still threatened the World with new Fleets; even then did this Active Lady, conclude( with the advice of her Council) and applause of her Kingdom to defend her self, thenceforth by invading her Enemy in his own Ports, and no more to attend the Conquerors pleasure at her own Doors.  
Out of which resolution she first sent out the Earl of Cumberland, who attempted the surprise of Porto Rico, and accomplished it with Honour, and so might have kept it, had not Diseases, and disorders proved more dangerous enemies to him than the great Name, and small Forces of the Spaniards did.  
Again, to prevent danger, not in the Bud, but Root, she took upon her the protection of Don Antonio King of Portugal, and sent Sir John Norris, and Sir Francis Drake with a Royal Fleet, and eleven thousand men to Land, who were seconded with the conduct, and countenance of the Earl of Essex. These took the Buse Town of the groin, and when they had overthrown all that came to recover it, and burnt the Country, then marched on to Lisbon, and in their passage, sacked Peniche, wasted divers Villages and Provinces, advanced to the very Gates of Lisbon, entred the Suburbs, and plundered them, and burnt threescore Spanish Hulks laden with Provisions.  
And to the same end she did, and still meant successively to maintain a Fleet of her own Ships, and of her fast friends the Neatherlanders upon the Spanish Coasts, not only to impede the return of Victuals, Ammunition and other materials for War, with which the Empire of Germany, Poland, and the Hanse towns, did usually( and fatally to themselves as it afterwards proved) furnish this growing Monarch; but also to keep his Navy, which was building and riding in many Havens, from a possibility of making Head in any one place whereby to annoy her: And lastly, to set such a charge upon the wasting home of his Indian Fleets, as might( in some measure) moderate and qualify the fearful abundance, which else, was like enough to spread infection through the soundest Counsels, and Counsellors of all her Neighbouring Princes.  
In the mean time the French King, Henry the third( encouraged by her Example and success) did encounter the Guisards, a strong Faction in France, supported by Spain. And when that King was treacherously slain, and the Leaguers in Arms under the Spaniards protection, then did our Queen providently take opportunity to change the seat of her Wars, and assisted Henry the fourth, the succeeding King by the Earl of Essex, until he was able to subsist by himself, and till, by her support, he was strengthened both to overthrow the League, and to become a second balance against the great and vast desires of Spain.  
Neither did she rest here, nor give him a breathing time, but with a Fleet of one Hundred and fifty Sail, and a strong Land Army, she sent the Earl of Essex, and the Admiral of England to invade Spain itself: These took Cales, spoiled the Spaniards Fleet, consisting of twenty Gallies, and fifty nine Ships, the Riches whereof were valued at twelve Millions of ducats. And immediately after, she sent the Earl of Essex with a Fleet to the Azores Islands, In which voyage he sacked Villa Franca, and took Prizes to the value of four hundred thousand ducats at the least.  
Now when this Spanish Invader found himself thus well paid with his own Coin, he was forced to divert the provoked hand of that famous Queen which she held over him, by stirring up the Earl of Tyr-Owen, and the Irish to rebel against her; for which end he sent money, and some Forces under Don John de Aquila: But this Lady, first by Essex, and afterwards by Mont-joy, overthrew the Irish, and sent home the Spaniards well recompensed with loss and dishonour for assisting her Rebels.  
By these and the like active courses of hers in successive and successful undertakings, this provident Lady both bore out the charge of all those expeditions; requited Spains Invasion, clipped the dreadful wings of this growing Monarch, and made his Credit swell in all the Money-Banks in Europe, causing withal as low an ebb of his Treasure.  
Again, by her thus imprisoning the Lion in his own Den, She did not only lessen his Reputation( a chief strength of growing Monarchs) but discovered such a light, as, perchance might have forced him in time to dispute the Titles of his Usurpations at home, and have given Portugal, arragon, and Granada opportunity to pled their Rights with Castile in the Court of Mars,( as since we see Portugal hath done) and freed its neck from bearing the yoke of Spain.  
Thus you see how our famous Judith hath dispersed and dispelled the terror of this Holophernes like a Cloud full of wind, and by a Princely wakefulness preserved all those sovereign States that were in League with her, from the dangerous temptations of Power, Wealth, and practise by which the growing Monarchs do often entangle the inferior, yet sovereign Princes.  
Besides, in honour of her be it spoken, did not this Mirror of Justice, by restraining that natural Ambition of gotting other Princes Rights, within the Natural Bounds of well Governing her own, become a Beam of such credit, as most of the Kings or States then Reigning, freely yielded, both to weigh their own interests within the Scales of her judgement, and besides, to assist her in bounding out the Imperial Meers of all Princes by the ancient Precession of Right and power.  
Lastly, did she not purchase the like Reputation, even among the Infidels, and by it destroyed a Nest which this aspiring Monarch of Spain began to build in the Seraglio of Constantinople. For she, thinking it no Wisdom to look on, and see his Spanish Pistols to pierce into so high a Mountain of Forces, and dispose of them at his pleasure, providently opened that strong Monarchs eyes to discover how craftily the weaker wrought his ends, at the cost of all defective and sleepy Princes about her?  
Yet did not this sovereign Lady intercept his Designs from under any vain refuge; But disappointed him by a gallant Factor of her Merchants, in a League of traffic, and prevailed to make his Ambassador, landed at Ragusa, and housed in Constantinople, and all under the Protection of Ferrat Bassa, the chief Visier, yet, and upon a contract of thirty thousand Zecchins already paid him, glad to return, and Ship himself away with more hast than he Landed.  
Besides, which Reputation given to her Name by the Grand signior in this particular, She generally got power to keep this fearful Standard of the half-Moon, waving in such a manner over all the King of Spains designs, as that he durst move no where against his Neighbouring Christian Princes for fear of being encompassed within the Horns of the Heathen Crescent.  
Now therefore to conclude: These Heroical Enterprises abroad, together with the Reformation of her, States at home: The resining of the English Sandard, embased by her Sister Mary: The preservation of her Crown-Revenue entire. Her great Wisdom in the change of Laws without change of dangers: The timely and Princely help she gave to King H. the fourth of France, when he had nothing but the Town of Di●p left him, his credit and Means being utterly exhausted, and so that brave King ready either to take the Sea and escape, or to fly for Succour into Engl. Also her constant Establishment of Religion in Ireland, Her driving the Spanish Forces thence, who were Maliciously sent, as well to stir up her Subjects to rebel against her, as to maintain and support them therein; together with the former recited particulars, howsoever improperly dispersed, or bundled up together, yet are in their natures of so rare a Wisdom, that( probably) they will be more and more admired, and that justly, in this excellent Princess, even many Ages after her Death.  
Upon occasion she professed that she preferred her Coffin before her Cradle; her Burial day before her Birth day. As Eccles. 7. 1.  
The Love of this unparalelled Queen to her people in general, and her tender care over the poor and oppressed in particular was admirable, and incomparable. Her ears were always open to their complaints, and her Hands stretched forth to receive their Petitions. Her manner was always to commend their causes to her Council, and Judges, to whom she used to say: Have a care of my People, You have my place. Do you to them that which I ought to do, They are my People, yet every one oppresseth them, and spoils them without Mercy. They cannot help themselves, nor revenge their own quarrel. See to them, I pray you, see to them, for they are my charge: Them do I Charge you with, even as God hath committed them to me: I care not for myself, my Life is not dear unto me. My care is for my People. If you knew the care I have for them you might easily discern that I take no great joy in wearing the Crown.  

The greatest difficulty that her Majesty met with, during all the time of her happy Reign, was the business about the Scottish Queen, concerning which the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, Presented unto her Majesty in her Presence-Chamber at Richmond, November the 12th. 1586. In the 25th. Year of her Majesties Reign, a Petition; Before the Delivery whereof, the Lord Chancellor spake to this Effect.  
THat the Lords and Commons having of a long time, to their intolerable Grief, found in how many Practices the Scottish Queen had compassed the destruction of her Majesties most Royal Person( in whose safety, next under God, they acknowledged their chiefest felicity to consist) thereby, not only to bereave them of the true and sincere Religion in this Realm professed, and established; But to bring back again this Noble Realm into the Thraldom of Romish Tyranny, and to overthrow the happy Estate thereof, wherein, although her highness of her abundant gracious natural Clemency and Princely Magnanimity, hath either lightly passed them over, or with no small Indulgence tolerated, notwithstanding the frequent and earnest instance of her Nobility, and Commons, in sundry Parliaments heretofore: And farther, hath protected her from the Violent pursuit of her own People: Yet she, as a Person obdurate in Malice( as it appears) continued her former practices, as hath been lately manifested by certain wicked conspiracies Plotted by one Anthony Babington, and divers desperate Persons, that had combined and confederated themselves by Vow and Oath, in a most horrible enterprise, by murder, to take away the Life of her Majesty, wherein the Scottish Queen did not only advice, but also direct▪ comfort, and abet them, with persuasions, Counsel, Promises of Reward, and earnest Obtestations.  
Whereupon, her Majesty at the earnest request of such as tendered the safety of her Royal Person, and the quiet of the Realm, did direct a Commission under the Great Seal, to sundry Lords, and others of her Majesties Privy Council, and a great number of Lords of Parliament, of the greatest and most ancient Degree, assisted with some of the Principal Judges of the Realm, to Hear, Examine, and Determine the same, according to a Statute made in that behalf, in the twenty seventh year of her Reign. Who, to the number of thirty six, having attended the Execution of the said Commission, and divers dayes and times, heard the Allegations against the said Scottish Queen in her own presence and hearing) She being permitted to say what she would in her own excuse) did with one consent find her guilty, both in privity and consent to the said Crimes objected▪ and also in compassing the Queens Majesties Death, which Sentence by her own directions upon her hearing the proofs and Process in Parliament, was judged to be most honourable and just, and thereupon they all beseech her Majesty, that forasmuch as the said Queen of Scots was the very ground and only subject whereupon such dangerous P●●ctises and Complots had been founded against h●r Majesties Royal Person, and the Estate of this Realm for these many Ye●rs, to the overthrow of sundry of the Nobility of the Land, ●●d danger of the Christian Religion and for that they could see no hope of her desisting, nor of her Adherents, but that still her Majesties safety must be hazarded, and stand to the event of the like miraculous discoveries.  
Therefore, as most humble and instant suppliants, they did upon their knees at her most gracious feet, beseech and request in most humble manner, that as well for continuance of Gods Religion, the quiet of this Kingdom, preservation of her Person, and defence of them and of their Posterities, it would please her Highness to take order that the said Sentence might be published, and such farther Direction given, as was requisite in this so weighty a Cause, according to the purport and intent of the said Statute; wherein, if she( pursuing her wonted Clemency) should now be remiss, besides the imminent danger to her Royal Person, she might by the neglect of Justice, incur the heavy displeasure of Almighty God, as by sundry examples of his severe Justice in the Sacred Scriptures doth evidently appear. Having spoken to this effect, he delivered into her Majesties own hand the said Petition in writing, which he said, had been with great deliberation assented to, by all the whole Parliament.  
Also at the same time there were delivered to her excellent Majesty by sergeant Puckering, Speaker of the House of Commons, such reasons as shewed what apparent and imminent dangers might accrue to her Majesties most Royal Person, and to her Realm, by the Scottish Queen and her Adherents, if remedies were not speedily provided, whereof this is a short extract.  

First, touching the danger of her Majesties Person.  
1. BOth this Scottish Queen and her Favourers do think her to have Right, not only to succeed, but to enjoy your Majesties Crown in present Possession; and therefore as she is a most impatient Competitor, so will she not spare any means whatsoever, that may bereave us of your Majesty, the only impediment that withholds her from the enjoyment of her ambitious desires.  
2. She is obdurate in her Malice against your Royal Person, notwithstanding you have shewed her all Favour and Mercy, as well in preserving her Kingdom, as in saving her life, and salving her honour. And therefore there is no place for more Mercy, since there is no hope that she will desist from her most wicked attempts. The rather for that her Malice appears to be such, that she makes( as it were) her Testament of the same, to be executed after her Death, and appointeth her Executors to perform it.  
3. She boldly and openly professed, that it was lawful for her to stir up an Invasion against▪ your Majesty, and therefore as upon Invasion Victory may ensue, and of Victory the Death of the Vanquished: So did she thereby, not obscurely bewray, that she thought it lawful to destroy your Sacred Person.  
4. She thinks it not only Lawful, but Honourable and Meritorious to take your Life from you, as being already deprived of your Crown by the Excommunication of her Holy Father the Pope; and therefore it is like she will( as hitherto she hath done) continually seek it by whatsoever means she can.  
5. That she is greedy of your Majesties Death, and prefereth it before her own Life and Safety. For in her Direction to one of her late Complices, she advised( under covert terms) that whatsoever should become of her, that Tragical Execution should be performed upon you.   

The danger of the overthrow of the true Religion.  
1. IT is most perilous to spare her, that continually hath sought the overthrow, and suppression of all true Religion, having been infected with Popery from her very Youth, and being after that a confederate in the Holy League( as they called it) when she came to age, and ever since hath been a professed enemy to the Truth.  
2. She resteth wholly upon Popish hopes for her delivery, and advancements, and is thereby so devoted to those of that Profession, that as well for the satisfaction of others, as for feeding of her own humour, She will supplant the Gospel, where, and whensoever she can, which evil is so much the greater, and the more to be avoided, as tending to the destruction of every Soul, and it will spread itself not only over England and Scotland, but also into those parts beyond the Seas, where the Gospel of God is professed and maintained, which Interest cannot but be exceedingly weakened by the defection of this Noble iceland.   

The Peril of the State of the Realm.  
1. AS the Lydians said; Unum Regem agnoscunt Lydi, Duos autem tollerare non possunt. The Lydians own one King, but cannot bear two: So say we Englishmen, we own one Queen Elizabeth but cannot endure two.  
2. As She hath already by her Allurements brought to destruction, more Noble-men and their Houses, together with a greater multitude of the Commons of this Realm during her abode here, than she could have been able to do, had she been in possession of her own Crown, and Armed in the Field against us, so will she still be a continual cause of the like Mischiefs, to the great loss and peril of this State. And therefore this Realm neither can nor may endure her.  
3. She is the only hope and refuge of all discontented Persons: She is the Foundation whereon all evil-disposed Persons do build their hopes: She is the Root from which all Rebellions and Treacheries do spring, And therefore whilst this their hope lasteth; this Foundation standeth; and this Root liveth, they will retain Heart, and set on foot whatsoever devices and Plots they have against this Realm, which otherwise would fall away, die, and come to nothing.  
4. Mercy now in this case shewed to her would in the end prove Cruelty towards us all: Est enim quaedam crudelis Misericordia: There is a certain cruel Mercy: and therefore to spare her is to spill us.  
5. Besides this, it will exceedingly grieve, and in a manner deadly wound the hearts of all the good Subjects of your Land, if they shall see so horrible a Conspiracy not condignly punished.  
6. Thousands of your Majesties most liege and loving Subjects of all sorts and degrees, that have, in a tender zeal of your Majesties safety, most willingly both by open subscription and a solemn Vow, entred into a firm, and Loyal Association, and thereby have protested to pursue unto the Death, by all forcible and possible means, such as this Queen is by just Sentence now found to be: These can neither discharge their Love, nor well save their Oath, if your Majesty shall keep her alive. Of which burden your Majesties Subjects are most desirous to be relieved, as the same may be, if Justice be done upon her.  
7. Lastly, Your Majesties most loving and dutiful Commons doubt not but that your Majesty is daily, and duly exercised in reading the Book of God: So it will please you to call to your Princely Remembrance, how dreadful the examples of Gods vengeance have been that are therein to be found, against King Saul for sparing of King Agag; and against Ahab for sparing the life of Ben-hadad, both which were by Gods just Judgments deprived of their Kingdoms for sparing those wicked Princes, whom God had delivered into their hands, on purpose to be slain by them, and therein to be Ministers of his Eternal and Divine Justice. Ye may red also therein, how prudently Solomon, the wisest of all Kings proceeded to punish, by taking away the life of his elder Brother Adonijah, for the only intention of a Marriage, which gave suspicion of Treason against him.  
Herein we your Majesties most loving and obedient Subjects, earnestly wait and depend upon your Princely Resolution, which we assure ourselves shall be to God most acceptable, and to us no other than the State of your Royal Authority may Afford us, and the approved Arguments of your tender care for our safety under your charge, doth promise to our expectation.    

To these two Speeches, and Petitions of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, in the 28th. Year of her happy Reign, the Queen returned an extemporary Answer to this purpose.  

THe bottonles Graces, and immensurable Benefits bestowed upon me by the Almighty, are and have been such, as I must not only aclowledge them but admire them, accounting them as well Miracles as Benefits, not so much in respect of his Divine Majesty with whom nothing is more common than to do things rare and singular, as in regard of our weakness, who cannot sufficiently set forth his wonderful works and Graces, which to me have been so many, so diversely folded and embroidered one upon another, as in no sort I am able to express them.  
And although there liveth not any, that may more justly aclowledge themselves infinitely bound unto God than I, whose Life he hath miraculously preserved at sundry times( beyond my merit) from a multitude of Perils and Dangers; Yet is not that the cause, for I count myself the deepliest bound to give him my humblest thanks, or to yield him greatest recognitior; but this which I shall tell you hereafter, which will deserve the name of a Wonder, if rare things, and seldom seen be worthy of account. Even this is it, That as I came to the Crown with the willing and joyful hearts of my Subjects, so do I now, after twenty eight years Reign perceive in you no diminution of good wills, which happily if I should, well might I breath, but could never think that I lived.  
And now, albeit I find my Life hath been full dangerously sought after, and my Death contrived by such, as no desert of mine incited, yet am therein so clear from Malice( which hath the property of making men to rejoice at the falls and faults of their Enemies, and makes them seem to do that for other causes, when malice and rancour is the true ground) as I protest it is, and hath been my sad, and serious thought, that one, not differing in Sex, of like Estate, and my near Kinswoman, should fall into so great a Crime. Yea, I had so little purpose to pursue her with any colour of Malice, that, as it is not unknown to some of my Lords here present( for now I will play the Blab) I secretly wrote unto her a Letter, upon the discovery of sundry Treasons, that if she would confess them, and privately aclowledge them by her letters, to myself, She should never need to be called to so public a Confession, neither did I it with a mind to circumvent her: For then I knew as much as she could confess, and so much I wrote unto her. And even yet, now that the matter is too apparent, if I thought she would truly repent( as perhaps she would easily appear in outward show to do) and that for her, no other would take the matter upon them, or that we were but as two Milk-maids, with Payls upon our arms, or that there were no more dependency upon us, but that my Life were only in danger, and not the whole estate of your Religion, and welfare, I protest( wherein you may believe me; for though I may have many other Vices, I hope I have not accustomend my Tongue to be an instrument of Untruth) I would most willingly pardon and remit these Offences.  
Or if by my Death other Nations and Kingdoms might truly say, that this Realm had attained an ever prosperous and flourishing Estate, I would( I assure you) not desire to live; but gladly give my Life to the end that my Death might procure you a better Prince.  
And for your sake it is that I desire to live to keep you from a worse. For as for myself, I assure you, I find no great reason why I should be fond of Life. I take no such pleasure in it, that I should much wish or desire it; Neither do I apprehended such terror in Death, that I should greatly fear it. Yet do I not say, that if the stroke were coming, perchance Flesh and Blood would be moved with it, and seek to shun and avoid it.  
I have had good experience and trial of this World. I know what it is to be a Subject, and what to be a sovereign: what to have good Neighbours, and sometimes I meet with evilwillers. In Trust I have found Treason: I have seen great Benefits little regarded, and instead of gratitude, I have met with courses purposely to across.  
These former Remembrances, present feeling, and future expectation of evils, makes me to think, That an evil is much the better the less while it endureth, and consequently, that they are happiest that go soonest hence; and they have taught me to bear with a better mind these Treasons, than is common to one of my Sex: Yea, and perhaps with a better heart than is in some men: And this I hope you will not wholly impute to my simplicity, or want of understanding, that I thus conceited, that had their designs taken effect, I should not have found the blow till I had felt it; and though my Peril should have been great, yet my Pain should have been but small and short: Wherein, as I would be loathe to die so bloody a Death, so I doubt not but God would have given me Grace to be prepared for such an event, whensoever it happeneth, which I wholly refer to Gods good pleasure.  
And now as touching their Treasons, and Conspiracies, together with the Contriver of them, I will not so prejudicate myself, and this my Realm, as to say, or think, that I might not, without the last Statute, by the ancient Laws of this Land, have proceeded against her, that not being made particularly to prejudice her, though perhaps it might then be so suspected, in respect of the disposition of such as depend that way.  
Yea, it was so far from being intended to entrap her, that it was rather an admonition to forewarn her of the danger thereof: But seeing it is made, and hath the force of a Law, I thought good, in that which might concern her, to proceed according thereunto, rather than by the course of the Common Law, wherein( if you the Judges have not deceived me, or that the Books which you brought me were not false( which God forbid) I might as justly have tried her by the ancient Laws of the Land.  
But you Lawyers are so nice in sifting and scanning every word and letter, that many times you stand more upon Form than upon Matter, upon Syllables than upon Sense of the Law. For in stri●●ness and exact following of common Form, she must have been Indicted in Stafford-Shire, have held up her hand at the Bar, and been tried by a Jury. Sure this would have been a proper course to have dealt with one of her quality? I thought it better therefore, for the avoiding of these and other absurdities, to commit the Cause to the inquisition of a good number of the greatest and most Noble Personages of this Realm, and of the Judges, and others of good Account, of whose Sentence I must approve; and all little enough. For we Princes( I tell you) are set on a Stage in the sight and view of all the World: The eyes of many behold our Actions. A spot is soon spied in our Garments. A Blemish is quickly noted in our doings. It behoveth us therefore to be careful, that all our proceedings be Just, and Honourable.  
But I must tell you one thing more, that in this last Act of Parliament, you have brought me into a narrow straight, in that I must give direction for her Death, which cannot but be a most grievous and irksome burden to me. And lest you might be mistaken in the Cause of mine absence from this Parliament( which I have almost forgotten) although there be no cause why I should willingly come among multitudes( for that among many some may be evil) yet hath it not been the fear of any danger that hath kept me from thence, but only my great grief, to hear this Cause spoken of, especially, that one of such a State and Kindred, should need so open a declaration, and that this Nation should be so blotted with spots of Disloyalty: Wherein yet the less is my grief, for that I hope the better part is mine, and those of the worse are not much to be accounted of: for that in seeking my destruction, they might have lost their own Souls.  
And even now I could tell you that which would make you sorry. It is a Secret, and yet I will impart it unto you, although it is known, I have the property to keep Counsel, but often-times too well to mine own peril.  
It is not long since that mine eyes did see it written, that an Oath was taken, within few dayes to kill me, or else to be hanged themselves: And that it should be performed ere one Month were ended. Hereby I see your danger in me, and I neither can or will be so unthankful, or careless of your Consciences, as not to provide for your safety.  
I am not unmindful of your Oath made in the late Association( manifesting your good wills and affections to me) taken, and entred into upon good Conscience, and a true knowledge of my danger, for the safety of my Person, and Preservation of my Life, Done( I protest to God) before I ever heard or thought of such a matter. Being wholly Ignorant of it, till a great number of Hands, with many Obligations were shewed me at Hampton Court, Signed, and Subscibed with the Hands and Seals of the greatest in this Land, which I do aclowledge to be a perfect Argument of your true Hearts, and great zeal for my safety, which doth the more vigorously tie and engage me to be the more careful for the good of you all.  
But forasmuch as this Case is rare, weighty, and of great consequence, I suppose you do not expect any present resolution, the rather for that it is not my manner in matters of far less moment, to return an Answer without due consideration, much more in this which is of such importance, I judge it very requisite with earnest Prayer to beg of God's Majesty, so to illuminate mine understanding, and to inspire me with his Grace, as that I may determine and do that which will tend to the establishment of his Church, the preservation of your Estates, and the prosperity of this Common-Wealth committed to my charge, wherein yet( for that I know delays are dangerous) you shall have our Resolution with all convenient speed, delivered by our Message. And whatsoever any Prince may merit of his Subjects, for the approved Testimony of their unfeigned Love and Sincerity, and that, either by Governing them justly, devoid of all partiality, or by sufferance of any injuries to be done( even to the poorest,) that do I assuredly promise inviolably to perform, for the requital of your o many good deserts.   
This Gracious Answer being thus made by the Queens Majesty the Lords and Commons were dismissed: And her Highness, some few dayes after, having deliberated upon their Petition, and being of a merciful disposition by Nature, and of a Princely Magnanimity, after some conflict within her self about a business of such weight and importance both to her self and her Realm, She sent to her Parliament by the Lord Chancellor, and by the mouth of an Honourable, and a right worthy Member of the House of Commons, this ensuing Message to both the Houses, wherein she moved, and earnestly charged them to enter into a farther consideration, whether there might not be some other way of Remedy, than that which they had already propounded, it being so far from her natural inclination.  
Hereupon the Lords and Commons in their several Houses had sundry consultations, both apart and by private Committees, chosen specially upon this occasion. And after Conference had betwixt the said Committees, and it was unanimously resolved among the House of Commons, and by the Universal Concord in the House of Lords( the question being there propounded to every one in particular,) there could be found out no other sound and sure means( to the best of their understanding) for the continuance of the Christian Religion, for the Peace and quiet of the Realm, for the safety of her Majesties Royal Person, than that which was contained in their late Petition.   

A brief Report of the Second Application, November 24. 1586. and of the Answer made in the Name of the Lords of Parliament to the Message sent by her Majesty by the Lord Chancellor after her first Answer.  
THe Lord Chancellor, being accompanied with above six and twenty Lords of this Parliament, came before her Highness in her Chamber of Presence, to deliver the Resolution of all the Lords of Parliament, concerning the Message which he had not long before delivered from her Majesty, for a farther consultation, whether any other means could be thought of, how the Scottish Queens Life could be spared, and yet her Majesties Person saved from danger, and the State of the Realm preserved in quiet, declared, that according to the Command which he had received from her Majesty, he had imparted the same unto the Lords Assembled in the House of Lords, whom he found by their general silence, much amazed at the propounding thereof, considering that the same had been before in deliberation among them, and resolved upon, and as it appeared by their former Petition presented to her Highness, wherein they had expressed the same Resolution.  
Notwithstanding which, for her Majesties further satisfaction, they had entred into a new consultation, and for that purpose had selected a great number of the choicest Persons of their House, to confer thereof, either privately among themselves or together with some of the Commons, which also was done accordingly, and that several times. At all which conferences it was concluded by them all, and also afterwards, by both the Houses( Nemine Contradicente) that there could be no other assured means for the preservation and safety of her Majesties Life, and the continuance of the true Protestant Religion, and the quiet of this State, then by the full execution of the Sentence according to their former Petition; instantly pressing her Majesty with many Arguments and Reasons tending thereunto, whereof( among others) this was one. That as it were Injustice to deny execution of the Law at the svit of any one particular Person, though the meanest of her People: So much more, not to yield to the earnest importunity, and humble Prayers of all her faithful and loving Subjects. After which he concluded with an earnest Petition for her Majesties Resolute, Determination and Answer, for a present and speedy direction, by Proclamation, and otherwise also; according to the form prescribed by the Statute.   

Here follows the Substance of a Second Speech made by the Speaker of the House of Commons at the same time, by the direction of the whole House.  
THat if her Majesty should be safe without taking away the Life of the Scottish Queen, the same were most likely, and probably to grow by one of these means following.  
1. That haply she might be reclaimed, and become a repenting Convert, acknowledging her Majesties great mercy and favour in pardoning her heinous offences, and by her Loyalty hereafter make good the fruits of such a Conversion.  
2. Or else, by a new strict Guard be so kept, as there should be no fear of the like attempts hereafter.  
3. Or; that good assurance might be given by Oath, Bonds or Hostages, as cautions for her good and Loyal behaviour for the time to come.  
4. Or lastly, by Banishment, whereby the Realm might be avoided of her Person, and thereby the Perils be farther removed that come to her Majesty by her presence among us.  

These Considerations being duly weighed, did yet appear so light in the judgement of all the House, that they durst not resolve that there was any security in any; no nor in all of them.  
FOr, touching her Conversion, it was considered, that if either Piety or Duty could have restrained her from such heinous attempts, there was cause abundantly ministered unto her, on her Majesties behalf, when she, not only protected her against the violence of her own Subjects, who pursued her to Death by Justice, but covered her Honour, when the same( by public famed) was touched, and by very heinous and Capital Crimes, objected, and proved against her, by certain Commissary Deligates, assigned to examine the same, and then spared her Life, when for her former Conspiracies, and Confederacies, with the Northern Rebels, her Highness was with great instance, by both Houses of Parliament, in the fourteenth year of her Majesties Reign, to do like Justice upon her, as now is desired, and as her Treasonable practices had then most justly deserved.  
And whereas the Penalty of this Act( which was sufficiently notified unto her) should have deterred her from such like wicked attempts, She hath nevertheless proceeded in her former wicked practices, as a Person altogether obdurate in Malice against her Majesty, and wholly irrecoverable: So as there was no probable hope of her Conversion, but rather great doubt and fear of her relapses, and Recidivation, forasmuch as she stood obstinately in the denial of matters most evidently proved against her, and now most justly Sentenced for them also. So that she is not entred so much as into the first part of Repentance, which is a taking notice of, and confession of her Offences, and therefore is so much the farther from the true fruits which should accompany the same.  
As for a surer Guard and more straight imprisonment, it was resolved that there was no security therein, nor yet in the two other means propounded of Bonds and Hostages; forasmuch as the same means that should be practised to take her Majesties Life away( which God forbid) would aptly serve both for the delivery of her Person, and for the release of her Bonds and Hostages, that should be given for Cautions in that behalf: which being unhappily effected, and to our irreparable loss, who should free the Bonds, or detain the Hostages? Or being detained, what proportion would there be in Bonds, or Hostages, to countervail the value of so precious and inestimable a Jewel, as her Majesty is to this Realm, and to us all.  
But she will solemnly Vow and take an Oath, that she will not attempt any thing to the hurt of her Majesties Person? She hath already sundry times falsified her Word, her Writing, yea, and her Oaths, and holdeth it for an Article of her Religion, That Faith is not to be kept with heretics, of which sort She accounts your Majesty to be one, and all the Professors of the Gospel also. And therefore we have little reason to trust her in that, whereof she makes so small Conscience.  
As for Banishment, that were a step( a malo in pejus) from one evil to a greater? A thing so much desired, and thirsted after by her Adherents, and by some Princes, her Allies, who sought her enlargement, chiefly for this end, to set her up as the head of a Party against her Majesty, in times of Invasion.  
To these were added some few other Reasons, collected out of her own Letters, and out of Babingtons Confession, who was her Agent and Instrument, and a chief Conspirator. By all which it did appear, how her own Conscience suggested what might justly fall upon her, in case any of her intended Designs came to light, viz. that She might haply be shut up in a more straight and close Prison, as in the Tower of London, if that no worse thing befell her. And in that she directed Babington, in case that he failed in the Action, he should nevertheless proceed in the residue, which was, the Death of her Majesty. He also confessed, that upon the assurance of her Majesties Death, or the arrival of foreign Forces, he intended to proclaim the Queen of Scots, and that he made no doubt of his desired success. And therefore her Majesties Death being so earnestly sought after, for the advancement of this her Competitor, Her Highness could not remain in quiet and security, if the Scottish Queen should continue her Life longer.    

The Second Answer made by her Majesty, delivered by her own mouth, to the Second Speech uttered in the names of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England.  Full grievous is the way, whose going on, and end, breeds cumber for the Hire of a laborious Journey. 
I Have striven more this day than ever I did in my Life, whether I should speak or use silence. If I speak and not complain, I shall dissemble: If I hold my peace, the labour which you have taken would be in vain. For me to make my moan, would be strange and rare. For I suppose you will find few, that for their own particular, will cumber you with such a care: Yet such( I protest) hath been my greedy desire, and hungering will, that of your consultation there might have fallen out some other means to work my safety, joined with your assurance( than that for which you are become such earnest suitors) as, I protest, I must needs use complaint, though not of you, yet unto you, and of the cause: For that I perceive by your advices, Prayers, and Desires, there falls out this Accident, that only my Injurers bane, must be my Lives security.  
But if there live any of so wicked a nature, as to suppose that I prolong this time only pro forma, to the intent that I might make a show of Clemency, thereby to set my Praises to the Wyredrawers, to lengthen them the more, they do me so great a wrong as they can hardly recompense. Or if any Person there be, that thinks, or Imagines, that the least Vain-glorious thought, hath drawn me farther herein, they do me as open injury as was ever done to any Creature, as he that is the framer of all Thoughts knows to be most true. Or if there be any that think, that the Lords who were made Commissioners, durst do no otherwise for fear of displeasing me, or else to be suspected to be of a contrary opinion, as to my safety, such do but heap upon me injurious conceits. For either those which were put in trust by me to supply my place, have not performed their Duties towards me, or else they have signified to you all, that my desire was, that every one should do according to his Conscience, and that, in the course of his proceedings, he should enjoy both freedom of voice, and liberty of Opinion; and that what they would not openly declare, they might privately have revealed to myself.  
It was of a willing mind, and great desire I had, that some other means might be found out, wherein I should have taken more comfort than in any other thing under the Sun. And since now it is resolved, that my safety cannot be established without the Death of a Princess, I have just cause to complain, that I, who in my Reign have pardonned so many Rebels, winked at so many Treasons, and either have not produced them, or altogether slipped them over with silence, should now be forced to this harsh proceeding against such a Person. I have also during my Reign, seen, and heard many opprobrious Books, and Pamphlets against me, my Realm, and State, accusing me to be a Tyrant( I thank them for their Alms) I believe that therein their meaning was to tell me News: And News indeed it is to me, would it were as strange to hear of their Impieties, What will they not now say, when it shall be reported abroad, that, for the safety of her Life, a Maiden Queen would be content to spill the Blood even of her own Kinswoman? I may therefore well complain, that any one should judge me to be addicted unto Cruelty, whereof yet I am so innocent, and guiltless, as that I should even slander God himself if I should say that he had given me so vile a mind. Yea( I protest) I am so far from it, that for mine own Life I would not touch her. Neither hath my care been bent so much how to prolong mine own Life, as how to preserve both, which I am hearty sorry is made so hard; yea so impossible.  
I am not so voided of judgement, as not to apprehended and see mine own danger: Nor yet so ignorant as not to know that it were in Nature a foolish course, to entertain a sword wherewith to cut mine own Throat: Nor so careless as not to weigh and consider that my Life is daily in great danger: But this I do consider that many a man would put his Life in apparent hazard for the safety of a King; I do not say that I will do so; but I pray think that I have thought upon it.  
But seeing so many have both written and spoken against me, I pray you give me leave to speak something in mine own defence, that before you return to your several Countries, I may let you know for what an one you have entertained so many troublous thoughts, wherein, as I think myself infinitely beholding to you all, that are so careful to preserve my Life by all means possible; so I protest unto you, that there is no Prince living, that ever shall be more mindful to requited so great and good deserts. And as I perceive that you still keep your old wont in a general seeking of the lengthening of my dayes, so, I am sure that I shall never requited you unless I had as many Lives as you all: But I will for ever aclowledge it, whilst there is any breath left in my body. For although I may not justify my many faults and sins to God, yet for my care in Governing of you, let me acquaint you with my unfeigned intents.  
When I first took the sceptre into my Hand, my Title to it did not make me to forget the Giver, and therefore I began my Government as it became me, by settling such a Religion, as both I was born in, bread in, and, I trust shall die in. And yet then I was not so simplo as not to know what danger and peril so great an alteration might procure me: How many great Princes, of a contrary Opinion would attempt all they could against me: And generally, what enmity I should bring upon myself, all which yet I regarded not, knowing that he for whose sake I did it, both could, and would defend me therein: And for this Religions-sake it is, that ever since I have been so dangerously prosecuted, and persecuted, as that I rather marvel that I am, than muse that I should not be; if it were not Gods holy hand that continueth me beyond all mens expectation.  
After this I entred into the School of Experience, seriously considering what is fit for a King to do: And I saw, that he was scarcely well furnished for Kingly Government, if he lacked Justice, Temperance, Magnanimity, or judgement. As for the two latter, I will not boast; my Sex doth not permit it: But for the two first, this I dare say, Among my Subjects, I never knew a difference of Persons where Right was one: nor never, to my knowledge, preferred for favour whom I thought not fit for worth: Nor bent mine Ears to give credit to a Tale that was first  told me. Nor was so rash to corrupt my judgement with my Censure; before I heard the Cause. I will not say but many Reports might happen to be brought to me, by such as might hear the Case, yet whose Partiality and Interest might happen to mar the matter( for we Princes cannot hear all ourselves) but this I dare boldly affirm; My Verdict went ever with the Truth according to my knowledge. As Alcibiades well advised his friend; That he should not give an answer in weighty matters, till he had recited over the Letters of the Greek Alphabet: So have not I ever used over sudden resolutions, in matters which have concerned me full near. To which I think you will give your attestations.  
And therefore as touching your consultations and advice, I conceive them to be Wise, Honest, and Conscionable. So Provident and Careful for the safety and security of my Life and Person( which I wish may be no longer than may be for your good) that though I can never give or yield you a due recompense, yet shall I endeavour myself to give you cause to think, that your care and good will is not ill bestowed, and shall strive to make myself worthy for such Subjects.  
And now lastly for your Petition; I shall pray you for this present to content yourselves with an Answer without Answer. Your Judgments I condemn not, neither do I mistake your Reasons: But I pray you to accept my thankfulness, excuse my doubtfulness, and take in good part my Answer answerless: Wherein yet I attribute not so much to mine own judgement, but that I think many particular Persons may excel, and go before me therein, though by my Degree I go before them. Therefore if I should say, I would not do what you request of me, it might be peradventure more than I thought: And to say I will do it, might perhaps breed peril of that which you labour to preserve, being more than in your own Wisdoms and Discretions would seem convenient, Circumstances of Place and Time being duly considered.   
FINIS.   

Courteous Reader. These Books following are Printed for, and sold by William Miller at the guilded Acorn in St. Pauls Church-yard.  

ASsemblies Annotations.  
Juvenal with Cuts by Sir Robert Stapleton.  
Ambrose's works.  
Cradocks Harmony.  
Churchil Divi Britannici.  
Elson on Colossians.  
Gunters works.  
Barkers Sermon, Isa. 9. 6.  
J. B. Sermon, Survey of Man, Job 14. 10.  
Dod on the Lords Prayer.  
Medice Cura Teipsum, or the Apothecaries Plea against Do●tor Christopher Meret.  
Cradocks Knowledge and practise, Q●arte.  
— Principles, Oct.  
Knowledge and practise, Quarto.  
Principles, Oct.  
Gunters works.  
Barkers Sermon, Isa. 9. 6.  
J. B. Sermon, Survey of Man, Job 14. 10.  
Dod on the Lords Prayer.  
Medice Cura Teipsum, or the Apothecaries Plea against Doctor Christopher Meret.  
William Lord Bishop of Gloucester, entitled a plain and full Exposition of the Catechism of the Church of England.  
Edward Lord Bishop of Norwich, entitled, a Sermon Preached before the Peers at Westminster, the 7th. of November being a day of solemn Humiliation for the continuing Pestilence.  
Nat. Hardy Dr. entitled, Justice triumphing, &c. A Sermon Preached the 5th. of November. entitled, the Pilgrims wish, A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Anne Dudson.  
— entitled, a loud Call to great Mourning, a Sermon on the 30th. of January, 1661. before the Parliament.  
— entitled, Lamentation, Mourning and Woe, a Sermon Preached the Lords day after the dismal Fire in the City of London.  
— entitled, the Royal commonwealths-man, &c. A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Sir Thomas Adams.  
Samuel Drake Doctor entitled, 〈◇〉, &c. a Sermon Preached at the Assizes in York, 1669.  
— entitled Totum hoins, &c. a Sermon Preached the 15th of March at the Assizes in York.  
Marriage of Arts, a Play.  
Miser a Play.  
Bastard a Play.  
Cheats a Play.  
Faithful Shepherdess a Play.  
Horatius a Play.  
Polyencles a Play.  
Combat of Love and Friendship a Play.  
Fetiplace Christian Monitor earnestly and compassionately persuading Sinners unto true and timely Repentance.  
English Directory, or Expositor, the twelfth Edition revised and enlarged, by S. C. Duod.  
complete Bone-setter, Octavo.  
Templum Musicum, or the Mystcal Synop, Octavo.  
The famous game of Chess-play, Octavo.  
Sheltons Tachygraphia, Latin, Octavo.  
clerks Looking-Glass for Persecutors, Octavo.   
FINIS.