THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 477 



&quot; common people.&quot; The queen answered very 

 gravely, &quot; That it was best first to inquire of them, 

 &quot; whether they would be set at liberty or no.&quot; 

 Thus she silenced an unseasonable motion with a 

 doubtful answer, as reserving the matter wholly in 

 her own power. Neither did she bring in this 

 alteration timorously, or by pieces, but in a grave 

 and mature manner, after a conference betwixt both 

 sides, and the calling and conclusion of a parliament. 

 And thus within the compass of one year she did so 

 establish and settle all matters belonging to the 

 church, as she departed not one hair s breadth from 

 them to the end of her life : nay, and her usual 

 custom was, in the beginning of every parliament, 

 to forewarn the houses not to question or innovate 

 any thing already established in the discipline or rites 

 of the church. And thus much of her religion. 



Now if there be any severer nature that shall tax 

 her for that she suffered herself, and was very willing 

 to be courted, wooed, and to have sonnets made in 

 her commendation ; and that she continued this 

 longer than was decent for her years : notwithstand 

 ing, if you will take this matter at the best it is not 

 without singular admiration, being much like unto 

 that which we find in fabulous narrations, of a certain 

 queen in the Fortunate Islands, and of her court and 

 fashions, where fair -purpose and love-making was 

 allowed, but lasciviousness banished. But if you 

 will take it at the worst, even so it amounteth to a 

 more high admiration, considering that these court 

 ships did not much eclipse her fame, and not at all 



