THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. \(\?) 



foreign invasions. For not a few treasons plotted 

 against her life, were most fortunately discovered 

 and disappointed. And this was no cause to make 

 her lead a more fearful or diffident life than before. 

 No new increase of her guard, no immuring herself 

 within her own walls, or forbearing to be seen 

 abroad ; but as one assured and confident, and that 

 was more mindful of her escape from danger, than 

 of the danger itself, she was constant to her former 

 customs and fashions. 



Furthermore, it is worth our labour to consider 

 the nature of the times in which she reigned. For 

 there are some times so barbarous and ignorant that 

 it is no greater matter to govern people, than to 

 govern a flock of sheep. But this queen, fell upon 

 times of singular learning and sufficiency ; in which 

 it was not possible to be eminent, without admirable 

 endowments of wit, and a rare temper of virtue. 

 Again, the reigns of women are for the most part 

 obscured by their husbands ; upon whom all their 

 praises and worthy acts do reflect : as for those that 

 continue unmarried, it is they that impropriate the 

 whole glory, and merit to themselves. And this was 

 the peculiar glory of this princess, that she had no 

 props or supports of her government, but those that 

 were of her own making. She had no brother, the 

 son of her mother ; no uncle, none other of the royal 

 blood and lineage that might be partner in her cares, 

 and an upholder of the regal dignity. And as for 

 those, whom she raised to honour, she carried such 

 a discreet hand over them, and so interchanged her 



