THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 459 



disinherited again, then laid aside and slighted : 

 during the reign of her brother, her estate was most 

 prosperous and flourishing ; during the reign of her 

 sister, very tempestuous and full of hazard. Neither 

 yet did she pass immediately from the prison to the 

 crown, which sudden change might have been 

 enough to make her cast off all moderation : but 

 first she regained her liberty, then there budded 

 forth some probable hopes of succession ; and lastly, 

 in a great still and happiness she was advanced to 

 the imperial crown without either noise or compe 

 titor. All which I allege that it may appear that 

 the divine Providence, intending to produce a most 

 exquisite princess, was pleased to prepare and mould 

 her by these degrees of discipline. Neither ought 

 the misfortune of her mother justly to stain the pure 

 stream of her blood ; especially seeing it is very evi 

 dent that King Henry the Eighth did first burn with 

 new loves, before he was inflamed with indignation 

 against Queen Anne : neither is it unknown to the 

 ages since, that he was a king naturally prone to 

 loves and jealousies ; and not containing himself in 

 those cases from the effusion of blood. Besides, the 

 very person for whom she was suspected sheweth 

 the accusation to be less probable, and built upon 

 weak and frivolous suppositions ; which was both 

 secretly whispered in many men s ears at that time; 

 and which Queen Anne herself testified by her 

 undaunted courage, and that memorable speech of 

 her s at the time of her death. For having gotten, 

 as she supposed, a faithful and friendly messenger, 

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