OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 395 



time take a view of other states abroad in Europe, 

 we shall find that we need not give place to the 

 happiness either of ancestors or neighbours. For if 

 a man weigh well all the parts of state and religion, 

 laws, administration of justice, policy of government, 

 manners, civility, learning and liberal sciences, in 

 dustry and manual arts, arms and provisions of wars 

 for sea and land, treasure, traffic, improvement of the 

 soil, population, honour and reputation, it will ap 

 pear that, taking one part with another, the state of 

 this nation was never more flourshing. 



It is easy to call to remembrance, out of histories, 

 the kings of England which have in more ancient 

 times enjoyed greatest happiness ; besides her ma 

 jesty s father and grandfather, that reigned in rare 

 felicity, as is fresh in memory. They have been 

 king Henry I. king Henry II. king Henry III. king 

 Edward I. king Edward III. king Henry V. All 

 which have been princes of royal virtue, great 

 felicity, and famous memory. But it may be truly 

 affirmed, without derogation to any of these worthy 

 princes, that whatsoever we find in libels, there is not 

 to be found in the English chronicles, a king that 

 hath, in all respects laid together, reigned with such 

 felicity as her majesty hath done. For as for the 

 first three Henries, the first came in too soon after 

 a conquest ; the second too soon after an usurpation ; 

 and the third too soon after a league, or barons war, 

 to reign with security and contentation. King 

 Henry I. also had unnatural wars with his brother 

 Robert, wherein much nobility was consumed : he 



