OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 153 



speak of merit of clemency ? or merit of beneficence ? 

 Where shall a man take the most proper and natural 

 trial of her royal clemency ? Will it best appear in 

 the injuries that were done unto her before she 

 attained the crown ? or after she is seated in her 

 throne ? or that the commonwealth is incorporated 

 in her person ? Then clemency is drawn in question, 

 as a dangerous encounter of justice and policy. And 

 therefore, who did ever note, that she did relent, after 

 that she was established in her kingdom, of the 

 wrongs done unto her former estate ? Who doth 

 not remember how she did revenge the rigour and 

 rudeness of her jailor by a word, and that no bitter 

 but salt, and such as shewed rather the excellency of 

 her wit than any impression of her wrong ? Yea, 

 and further, is it not so manifest, that since her reign, 

 notwithstanding the principle that princes should not 

 neglect, &quot;That the Commonwealth s wrong is inclu 

 ded in themselves ;&quot; yet when it is question of drawing 

 the sword, there is ever a conflict between the justice 

 of her place, joined with the necessity of her state 

 and her royal clemency, which as a sovereign and 

 precious balm continually distilleth from her fail- 

 hands, and falleth into the wounds of many that 

 have incurred the offence of her law. 



Now, for her beneficence, what kind of persons 

 have breathed during her most happy reign, but have 

 had the benefit of her virtues conveyed unto them ? 

 Take a view, and consider, whether they have not 

 extended to subjects, to neighbours, to remote stran 

 gers, yea, to her greatest enemies. For her subjects, 



