THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 467 



customed to man in general : she was not trans 

 ported either with desire of life, or tediousness of 

 sickness, or extremity of pain ; she had no grievous 

 or uncomely symptoms, but all things were of that 

 kind, as did rather shew the frailty of nature, than a 

 deordination or reproach of it. For some few days 

 before her death, being much pined with the ex 

 treme drought of her body, and those cares that 

 accompany a crown, and not wonted to refresh her 

 self with wine, or any liberal diet, she was struck 

 with a torpor and frigidity in her nerves ; notwith 

 standing, which is rare in such diseases, she retained 

 both her speech, and memory and motion, though 

 but slow and weak, even to the end. And in this 

 case she continued but a few days ; so as it cannot 

 be called the last act of her life, but the first step to 

 her death. For as it is a miserable condition to see 

 the faculties of our body buried before us; and to 

 survive long after them ; so it is a fair and natural 

 conclusion of our life, when the senses are by little 

 and little laid asleep that the dissolution of the 

 whole should immediately follow. 



I will add one thing more to make up the full 

 measure of her felicity : which is, that she was not 

 only most happy in her own person, but in the abi 

 lities and virtues of her servants, and ministers, for 

 she was served by such persons as I suppose this 

 island never brought forth the like before her times. 

 Now when God beareth a love to kings, no doubt 

 he raiseth up the spirits of wise servants as a con 

 current blessing. 



