58 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [ VII. 9. 



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. 



10. Neither hath learning an influence and operation 



