156 A DISCOURSE IN PRAISE 



enemies of her realm, that hath been the only pores 

 and pipes whereby the treasure hath issued. Hath 

 it been the sinews of a blessed and prosperous peace ? 

 Hath she bought her peace ? Hath she lent the king 

 of Spain money upon some cavillation not to be re 

 peated, and so bought his favour ? And hath she 

 given large pensions to corrupt his council ? No, but 

 she hath used the most honourable diversion of trou 

 bles that can be in the world. She hath kept the 

 fire from her own walls by seeking to quench it in her 

 neighbours. That poor brand of the state of Bur 

 gundy, and that other of the crown of France that 

 remaineth, had been in ashes but for the ready foun 

 tain of her continual benignity. For the honour of 

 her house it is well known, that almost the universal 

 manners of the times doth incline to a certain parsi 

 mony and dryness in that kind of expenee; yet she 

 retaineth the ancient magnificence, the allowance as 

 full, the charge greater than in time of her father, 

 or any king before ; the books appear, the computa 

 tion will not flatter. And for the remunerating and 

 rewarding of her servants, and the attendance of the 

 court, let a man cast and sum up all the books of 

 gifts, fee-farms, leases and custodies that have passed 

 her bountiful hands. Let him consider again what a 

 number of commodious and gainful offices heretofore 

 bestowed upon men of other education and profes 

 sion, have been withdrawn and conferred upon her 

 court. Let him remember, what a number of other 

 gifts disguised by other names, but in effect as good 

 as money given out of her coffers, have been granted 



