DEATH OF THE QUEEN. XCV 



and, soon after the accession of James to the throne, he 

 thus speaks of the Queen. 



&quot; She was a princess that if Plutarch were now alive to 

 write lives by parallels, 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, lan 

 guage, or of science, modern or ancient, divinity or huma 

 nity: and, unto the very last year of her life, she was accus 

 tomed to appoint 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 regimen. 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 prero 

 gative, not slackened, nor much strained; the flourishing 

 state of learning, suitable 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 dis 

 contents ; and there be considered, on the other side, the 

 differences of religion, the troubles of neighbour countries, 

 the ambition of Spain, and opposition of Rome ; and then 

 that she was solitary and of herself; these things I say 

 considered, I could not have chosen a more remarkable 

 instance of the conjunction of learning in the prince, with 

 felicity in the people.&quot; 



Cfrtti of a# I. 



