FULHAM PALACE 



The Tradescent epitaph in Lambeth Churchyard was no isolated 

 instance ; in scores of old City churches, some still existing, others 

 swept away in the great fire of 1666, there were raised, on Queen 

 Elizabeth's death, genuine and voluntary testimonies to her worth. 

 " Religion in its primitive sincerity restored," to quote the monu- 

 ment from Blackfriars Church, which epitomized the events of 

 forty-five years. " Peace thoroughly settled, Coine to the true 

 value refin'd, Rebellion at home extinguished, France neere mine 

 by intestine mischifes relieved, Netherlands supported, Spaine's 

 Armada vanquished, Ireland with Spaniards' expulsion and 

 traitors' correction quieted, both Universities' Revenues, by a Law 

 of Provision, exceedingly augmented, Finally all England 

 enriched, 45 years most prudently governed, Elizabeth, a Queene, 

 a Conqueresse, Triumpher, the most devoted to piety, the most 

 happy, after 70 yeeres of her life, quietly by Death departed." 



Elsewhere another sums up the royal virtues thus : 



" This, this was she, that in dispight of Death, 

 Lives still admir'd, ador'd Elizabeth. 



" Spaine's rod, Rome's ruine, 



Netherland's reliefe, 

 Heaven's gem, Earth's joy, 



World's wonder, Nature's chiefe." 



With quaint brevity a third epitaph informs us that : 



" She ruled England yeeres 44, and more, 

 And then returned to God 

 At the age of 70 yeeres, and somewhat od." 



And it winds up as do all the other memorials to Queen Elizabeth 

 with a text that in the minds of her people had clearly a literal 

 meaning : 



" I have fought a good fight, 

 I have kept the faith." 



Possibly the reader may say : " And what has all this to do with 

 the story of Fulham Palace ? " Only this much, that it was the 

 expression at the time of the national feeling, and goes far to explain 

 the attitude of mind of Dr. Richard Fletcher, who became Bishop 

 of London in 1593, and whose grief at the loss of his royal mistress's 

 favour is supposed to have shortened his life. He had previously 



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