THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 469 



fain see what we can commend ;&quot; certainly, for my 

 part, I hold true admiration to be the highest degree 

 of commendation. And besides such felicities as we 

 have recounted could not befal any princess, but 

 such an one as was extraordinarily supported, and 

 cherished by God s favour ; and had much in her 

 own person, and rare virtues, to create and work out 

 unto herself such a fortune. Notwithstanding, I 

 have thought good to insert something now con 

 cerning her moral part, yet only in those things, 

 which have ministered occasion, to some malicious to 

 traduce her. 



This queen, as touching her religion, was pious, 

 moderate, constant, and an enemy to novelty. First 

 for her piety, though the same were most conspicu 

 ous in her acts and the form of her government ; 

 yet it was pourtrayed also in the common course of 

 her life, and her daily comportment. Seldom would 

 she be absent from hearing divine service, and other 

 duties of religion, either in her chapel, or in her 

 privy closet. In the reading of the scriptures, and 

 the writings of the fathers, especially of Saint 

 Augustine, she was very frequent ; she composed 

 certain prayers herself upon emergent occasions. 

 Whensoever she named God, though it were in 

 common discourse, she would for the most part add 

 the title of Maker, saying, God my Maker : and 

 compose both her eyes and countenance to a sub- 

 missness and reverence. This I have often, myself, 

 observed, being in her presence ; now whereas some 

 have divulged her unmindfulness of mortality, in 



