164 A DISCOURSE IN PRAISE 



warred upon, because he seeketh, not to possess 

 them, for they were possessed by him before, but 

 to plant there an absolute and martial government, 

 and to suppress their liberties : the like at this day 

 attempted upon Arragon : the poor Indies, whereas 

 the Christian religion generally brought infran- 

 chisement of slaves in all places where it came, in 

 a contrary course are brought from freemen to be 

 slaves, and slaves of most miserable condition : sun 

 dry trains and practices of this king s ambition in 

 Germany, Denmark, Scotland, the east towns, are 

 not unknown. Then it is her government, and her 

 government alone, that hath been the sconce and 

 fort of all Europe, which hath lett this proud nation 

 from over-running all. If any state be yet free 

 from his factions erected in the bowels thereof; if 

 there be any state wherein this faction is erected, 

 that is not yet fired with civil troubles ; if there be 

 any state under his protection upon whom he 

 usurpeth not ; if there be any subject to him that 

 enjoyeth moderate liberty, upon whom he tyran- 

 nizeth not : let them all know, it is by the mercy 

 of this renowned queen, that standeth between them 

 and their misfortunes. These be some of the beams 

 of noble and radient magnanimity, in contempt of 

 peril which so manifestly, in contempt of profit 

 which so many admire, and in merit of the world 

 which so many include in themselves ; set forth 

 in my simplicity of speech with much loss of lus 

 tre, but with near approach of truth ; as the sun 

 is seen in the water. 



Now to pass to the excellencies of her person : 



