470 THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 



that she would never endure any mention either of 

 her age, or death, is most false : for she would often, 

 and that many years before her death, with a great 

 deal of meekness profess that she found herself 

 grown an old woman, and she would sometimes open 

 herself what she liked best for an inscription upon 

 her tomb, saying, that she loved no pompous or vain 

 glorious titles but would only have a line or two for 

 her memory, wherein her name and her virginity, 

 and the years of her reign, and her establishing of 

 religion, and her maintaining of peace, should be 

 in the fewest words comprehended. It is true, that 

 whilst she was in her vigorous years, and able to 

 bear children, if at any time she were moved to de 

 clare her successor, she would make answer, that she 

 would never endure to see her winding-sheet before 

 her eyes. And yet notwithstanding some few years 

 before her death, one day when she was in a deep 

 meditation, and, as it may be guessed, in that of her 

 mortality, one that might be bold said unto her, 

 &quot; madam, there are divers offices, and great places in 

 &quot; the state, which you keep too long void.&quot; She 

 arose up in some displeasure, and said, &quot; I am sure 

 my office will not be long void.&quot; 



As for her moderateness in religion I shall seem 

 to be at a stand, in regard of the severe laws made 

 against her subjects of the Romish religion : not 

 withstanding, that which I shall say is no more than 

 what I know for certain, and diligently observed. 

 Most certain it is, that it was the firm resolution of 

 this princess not to offer any violence to consciences ; 



