2i 4 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



so sacred in the world, that though it were extremely 

 dishonoured in Commodus, Caracalla, and Heliogabalus, 

 who all bare the name, yet when Alexander Severus refused 

 the name because he was a stranger to the family, the 

 Senate with one acclamation said, Quomodo Augustus, sic et 

 Antoninus : in such renown and veneration was the name 

 of these two princes in those days, that they would have it 

 as a perpetual addition in all the emperor's style. In this 

 emperor's time also the church for the most part was in 

 peace ; so as in this sequence of six princes we do see the 

 blessed effects of learning in sovereignty, painted forth in 

 the greatest table of the world. 



But for a tablet or picture of smaller volume, (not 

 presuming to speak of your Majesty that liveth,) in my 

 judgment the most excellent is that of Queen Elizabeth, 

 your immediate predecessor in this part of Britain ; a 

 prince that, if Plutarch were now alive to write lives by 

 parallels, would trouble him, I think, to find for her a 

 parallel amongst women. This lady was endued with 

 learning in her sex singular, and rare even amongst mascu- 

 line princes ; whether we speak of learning of language or 

 of science ; modern or ancient ; divinity or humanity. And 

 unto the very last year of her life she accustomed to 

 appoint set hours for reading, scarcely any young student 

 in an university more daily or more duly. As for her 

 government, I assure myself I shall not exceed if I do 

 affirm that this part of the island never had forty-five 

 years of better times ; and yet not through the calmness of 

 the season, but through the wisdom of her regiment. For 

 if there be considered of the one side, the truth of religion 

 established; the constant peace and security; the good 

 administration of justice ; the temperate use of the pre- 

 rogative, not slackened, nor much strained ; the flourishing 

 state of learning, sortable to so excellent a patroness ; the 

 convenient estate of wealth and means, both of crown and 

 subject ; the habit of obedience, and the moderation of 

 discontents ; and there be considered on the other side, the 

 differences of religion, the troubles of neighbour countries, 

 the ambition of Spain, and opposition of Rome ; and 



