and intrigues of Mary. These would in a degree have been excusable, had she acted only in self defence, or to free herself from what she deemed an unjust confinement. But it must be had in remem brance, that Mary, when placed in stations most exalted, and enjoying the sovereignty of two kingdoms, unrestrained by any generous sympathy for a kinswoman whom she knew to be the rightful heir to the English crown, and who was in constant jeopardy by the violence of parties, persisted in urging her own claim to the sovereignty of that kingdom, which could only be acquired by the death or perpetual captivity of Elizabeth. There was a marked difference in the appeals of Mary, when in the power of Elizabeth, to the ties of consanguinity and common ancestry, which it was urged should form a bond of union and amity between parties so connected; pretensions like these only made the hypocrisy of Mary more apparent. Another instance may here be cited in proof of the clemency and forbearance of the English queen. Had she been disposed to mark the aberrations or disingenuousness of her subjects, she would not have passed over in silence the disclosures made by the papers found in possession of the queen of Scots, which has been previously related. But the moral grandeur which characterized Elizabeth, was in no instance more finely exhibited, than when she magnanimously determined not to suffer her catholic subjects to receive any wrong, albeit she had many powerful reasons to to suspect and fear them, at the perilous period of the Spanish invasion. These instances, with many minor ones, put beyond all doubt the natural equity and clemency of this admirable princess. Whensoever resort was had to severity, it was unquestionably deemed essential to the security, not only of her kingdom, but of the whole protestant community. From facts like these, it is quite apparent that those catholics, who were punished for their contumacious adherence to the doctrines of the Romish church, obtruded themselves on the public notice, and by openly advocating the supremacy of the pope, virtually denied the right of the queen to govern and regulate her own kingdom. This heresy of course could not be tolerated. Elizabeth, it is well known, was only saved from destruction by her extreme vigilance and extraordinary talents. No sovereign appears to have enjoyed so much popularity, or to have been so much beloved by her subjects, as was this wonderful princess, nor did any receive so much homage and attention. The excursions she oftentimes made in different parts of her kingdom, not only afforded opportunities of witnessing the condition of her people, but made her acquainted with the grievances under which many labored, who could not otherwise come to the royal ear. Her majesty, we are told, loved popular applause, and was fond of magnificent entertainments, and her reception at the different towns or mansions which she honored with her presence are detailed with great minuteness, and afford both amusement and instruction. 'Her visit to the University of Cambridge, in the summer of 1564, presents too many characteristic traits to be passed over in silence. Her gracious in tention of honoring this seat of learning with her presence was no sooner disclosed to the secretary, who was chancellor of the University, than it was notified by him to the vice chancellor, with a request that proper persons might be sent to receive his instructions on the subject. It appears to have been part of these instructions, that the University should prepare an extremely respectful letter to lord Robert Dudley, who was its high-steward, intreating him in such a manner to commend to her majesty their good intentions, and to excuse any failure in the performance, that she might be inclined to receive in good part all their efforts for her entertainment. 'Cecil arrived at Cambridge the day before the queen to set all things in order, and received from the University a customary offering of two pairs of gloves, two sugar loaves, and a marchpane; lord Robert and the duke of Norfolk were complimented with the same gift, and finer gloves and more elaborate confectionery were presented to the queen herself. When she reached the door of king's college chapel the chancellor kneeled down and bade her welcome; and the orator kneeling down on the church steps made her an harangue of nearly half an hour. First he praised and commended many and singular virtues planted and set in her majesty, which her highness not acknowledging of, shaked her head, bit her lips. and her fingers, and sometimes broke forth into passion and these words, 'Non est veritas et utinam.' On his praising virginity, she said to the orator, 'God's blessing on thy heart there continue.' After that he showed what joy the University had in her presence, &c. When he had done, she commended him and much marvelled that his memory did so well serve him repeating such diverse and sundry matters, &c. This concluded, she entered the chapel in great state, Lady Strange, a princess of the Suffolk line, bearing her train, and her ladies following in their degrees. Te Deum was sung, and the evening service performed with all the pomp that protestant worship admits, in that magnificent temple of which she highly extolled the beauty. The next morning, which was Sunday, she went thither again to hear a latin sermon ad clerum, and in the evening the body of this solemn edifice being converted into a temporary theatre, she was there gratified with a representation of the Uluria of Plautus. Offensive as such an application of a sacred building would be to modern feelings, it probably shocked no one, when the practice of performing dramatic entertainments in churches, introduced with the mysteries and moralities of the middle ages, was scarcely obsolete and certainly not forgotten. Neither was the representation of plays on Sundays at this time regarded as an indecorum, 'A public disputation in the morning and a latin play on the story of Dido in the evening, formed the entertainment of her majesty on the third day. On the fourth, an English play called Ezechias was performed before her. The next morning she visited the different colleges, at each of which a latin oration awaited her, and a parting present of gloves and con fectionery, besides a volume richly bound containing the verses in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldee, composed by the members of each learned society in honor of her visit. Afterward she repaired to St. Mary's church, where a very long and very learned disputation by doctors in divinity was prepared for her amusement and edification. When it was ended, the lords, and especially the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Robert Dudley, kneeling down, humbly desired her majesty to speak something to the University, and in latin. Her highness at first refused; but the bishop of Ely kneeling, said that three words of her mouth were enough. By entreaties so urgent, she was prevailed upon to deliver a speech containing some disqualifying phrases respecting her own proficiency in learning and her attachment to the cause, and a paragraph followed which may be thus translated:-'I saw this morning your sumptuous edifices, founded by illustrious princes, my predecessors, for the benefit of learning; but while I viewed them, I sighed like Alexander the Great, when having perused the records of the deeds of other princes, turning to his friends or counsellors, he lamented that any one should have preceded him either in time or in actions. When I beheld your edifices, I grieved that I had done nothing in this kind. Yet, did the vulgar proverb somewhat lessen, though it could not entirely remove my concern, that 'Rome was not built in a day.' For my age is not yet so far advanced, neither is it yet so long since I began to reign, but that, before I pay my debt to nature, I may still be able to execute some distinguished undertaking and never will I be diverted from the intention, while life shall animate this frame,' &c. &c. : |