se Th 1 yt 
heidi a. 
58 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [VIL9. 
judgement the most excellent is that of Queen Elizabeth 
your immediate predecessor in this part of Britain; a prince 
that, if Plutarch were now alive to write lives by paral- | 
lels, would trouble him I think to find for her a parallel 
amongst women. ‘This lady was endued with learning 
in her sex singular, and rare even amongst masculine 
princes; whether we speak of learning, of language, or : 
of science, modern or ancient, divinity or humanity : and 
unto the very last year of her life she accustomed to ap- 
point set hours for reading, scarcely any young student 
in an university more daily or more duly. As for her 
government, I assure myself, I shall not exceed, if I do 
affirm that this-part of the island never had forty-five 
years of better times ; and yet not through the calmness 
of the season, but through the wisdom of her regiment. 
For if there be considered of the one side, the truth of 
religion established, the constant peace and security, 
the good administration of justice, the temperate use of 
the prerogative, not slackened, nor much strained, the 
flourishing state of learning, sortable to so excellent a 
patroness, the convenient estate of wealth and means, 
both of crown and subject, the habit of obedience, and 
the moderation of discontents ; and there be considered 
on the other side the differences of religion, the troubles 
of neighbour countries, the ambition of Spain, and op- 
position of Rome ; and then that she was solitary and of 
herself; these things I say considered, as I could not 
have chosen an instance so recent and so proper, so I 
suppose I could not have chosen’ one more remarkable 
or eminent to the purpose now in hand, which is con- 
cerning the conjunction of learning in the prince with 
felicity in the people. 
io. Neither hath learning an influence and operation 
