how her Highnesse in one of her Progresses walking in the Garden of a house where she was receiued being somewhat neere the highway heard on a suddaine a market woman crie and from an Arbour behelde one of her owne seruants a Taker vp of prouision vse the woman vnciuillie whereupon the cause being examined and the poore woman found by the same fellowe to be wrongd as well afore as then her Highnesse causd him presently to be dischargd of her seruice and punished yet the fault being but slight the Taker was countenanced to make sute to be restord and some halfe yeere after fell downe before her Maiestie desiring mercie and restoring her Highnesse pittying his distresse commaunded him to be prouided for in some place where he could not wrong her poore subiects but in any case not to make him a Taker Manie such false ones she hath punished with death and those that haue by power friends or fauour scapd let then Zacheus restore least their ends be worse than their beginnings I could in this as all the rest reckon multitudes of examples but I will end with her Excellence in this Act of Charitie extended to her neighbours whom shee hath by her bountie deliuered from the tyrannie of oppression and ayded the right of others against rebellious subiects others assisted to recouer their Kingdomes not sparing millions to sustaine the quarrell of the righteous The reward of which mercy and charitie she now findes being done for his cause that leaueth no deed of mercy vnrecompenced As shee was richly stored with diuine graces so in morall vertues no Princesse euer-liuing in the earth can be remembred to exceede her Her wisedome was without question in her life by any vnequalled shee was sententious yet gracious in speech So expert in Languages that she answered most Embassadors in their Natiue tongues her capacitie was therewith so apprehensiue and inuention so quicke that if anie of them had gone beyond their bounds with gracious maiestie she would haue limitted them within the verge of their duties as shee did royallie wiselie and learnedlie the last strutting Poland Messenger that thought with stalking lookes and swelling words to daunt her vndaunted Excellence But as he came proud he returned not without repentance hauing no other wrong heere but the shame of his owne sausinesse Manie such examples I could set downe but I will satisfie you with one more When the Spaniards hauing their Armatho readie temporisde with her Highnesse Commissioners in the low Countries thinking to find her vnprouided at last when they accounted all sure they sent her their Kings choise either of peace or warre wittilie included in foure Latine verses portending that if she would cease to defend the Lowe Countries restore the goods taken by reprisall from the Spaniards build vp the Religious houses diuerted in her Fathers time and let the Romane Religion bee receiued through her land why then she might haue peace if not it was too late to expect any Which proud commaunding Embassie with royall magnanimitie gratious wisedome and fluent wit she answered instantly in one knowne prouerbiall line which she sodainly made into a Verse Ad Graecas haec fiant mandata Kalendas O Thenot did not assurance of our kingly Poets loue to the Muses somewhat comfort me I should vtterly dispaire euer to heare Pastorall song againe fild with anie conceit seeing her Excellence whose braine was the Hellican of all our best and quaint inuentions is dried vp by the ineuitable heate of death Her owne iustice was such as neuer any could truly complaine of her neither did shee pardon faultes vnpardonable as murder rape Sodomie that sin almost not to be namd neither was there in her with her knowlege extremitie of iustice showne to other malefactors if any such did fall it was either by falshood or malice of the euidence practise of corrupt men or some other secret wherwith poore Shepheards are vnacquainted only this we are taught that God sometime punisheth the sins of parents on their children to many generations But for her selfe she was alwaies so enclined to equity that if she left Iustice in any part it was in shewing pittie as in one generall punishment for murder it appeared whereas before time there was extraordinary torture as hanging wilfull muderers aliue in chaines shee hauing compassion like a true Shepheardnesse of their soules though they were of her erring and vtterly infected flocke said their death satisfied for death aud life for life was all could bee demāded affirming more that much torture distracted a dying man in particular she saued many Among some vnworthy of her mercy that proud fellow who vniustly named himselfe Doctor Parry and an other as I remember called Patrick an Irish man the first hauing offended in burglary against a lawier able willing to take away his life therto vrged by many misdemeanours and for that Parry doubted his attempt to kill act of fellony was without compasse of pardon considering the place where it was done and against whom thought a lease of his life safest which of her benigne mercy he obtained for 21. yeares but ere 3. of thē were past he did vnnaturally attempt her death that had giuē him life for which traiterous ingratitude he worthily was cut off the Irish man likewise being pardoned for a man slaughter proued vnthankfull and ended as he liued shamefully Besides she was so inclinable to mercy that her iust and seuere Iudges told her how some desperate malefactors building on friends and hopes of pardon cared not for offending but euen scoffed at authority wherof when she heard she tooke speciall care considering it was as great iniustice to pity some as spare others taking order to signe no pardon except the Iudges hand were at it first which truly knew the cause why the party was condemned by which meanes murderers and presumptuous offenders were cut off from all hope One notable example of her iustice among many I wil here remember Certaine condemned for Piracie hauing made some end with them they wronged lay for their liues at her mercy and the Iudge of her Admiraltie hauing signified fauourably of the qualitie of their offence she was moued to pittie them and had commanded their pardon to be drawne In the meane time two of them trained vp in the fashion of our cōmon Cutters that I may tel thee Thenot swarm rather like deuils than men about the country that sweare as if they had license to blaspheme stab men as if they had authority nay sometime themselues for very trifles two such I say were in the company of these condemned Pyrates hourely hoping for their liues and brauing either other of their manhoode saying one durst more than the other the eldest being Maister of their late ship wherein they had sailed to that place of sorrow slyces his owne flesh with a knife asking the other if he durst doo as much the Younker was very readie and two or three times
her people confessed Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo Gloria And as she was euer constant in cherishing that faith wherein shee was from her infancie nourisht so was shee faithfull of her word with her people and with forraine Nations And albeit I know some too humorously affected to the Romane gouernment make a question in this place whether her highnesse first brake not the truce with the King of Spaine to that I could answer were it pertinent to me in this place or for a poore shepheard to talk of state with vnreprooueable truths that her highnes suffered many wrongs before fhe left off the league O saith Thenst in some of those wrongs resolue vs and thinke it no vnfitting thing for thee hast heard the songs of that warlike Poet Philisides good Meliboee and smooth tongued Melicert tell vs what thou hast obserued in their sawes seene in thy owne experience and heard of vndoubted truthes touching those accidents for that they adde I doubt not to the glory of our Eliza. To this entreatie Collin condiscended and thus spake It is not vnknowne the Spaniard a mighty Nation abounding with treasure being warres sinewes torne from the bowels of Mines fetcht from the sands of Indian Riuers by the miserable captiued Natiues haue purposed to be Lords of Europe France they haue attempted and failed in Nauarre they haue greatly distrest Lumbardy the garden of the world they are possessed of Naples and Sicilie Sardinia Corsica are forced to obey their lawes and that they reckoned England should be theirs with such small case euen in a manner with threatning their songs taught little Infants from Andolozia to Galizia are witnes The dice were cast her Maiesties subiects craftily put into the Inquisition vpon euery smal colour if they scaped which seldome sorted out so wel aliue they could of their goods haue no restitution Their King gaue pensions to our Queenes Rebellious fugitiue subiects not only to such that in regard of their Religion fled the land but vnto such as had attempted to resist her in actiue rebellion and yet not staying there out of his treasurie proposed rewards for sundry to attempt the murder of her sacred person of which perfidious gilt she ueuer was tainted let any Spaniard or Spanish affected English proue where she euer hired abetted or procured any such against their Kings Maiestie and I wil yeeld to be esteemed as false as falshood it selfe nay they cannot deny but that euen with the Rebels of her Realme of Ireland stird vp to barbarous and inhumane outrages by the Spanish policie shee hath no way dealt but by by faire and laudable warre But before I enter into her Maiesties lenitie in that Irish warre against sundry knowne Rebels and punishing some of her subiects that vpon zealc to her or perchance to get themselues a glorie aduentured their owne liues by treacherie to cut off the liues of some great Leaders of the Rebels I will a little digresse least I should be thought after her death to maintain the fire of hate which I euer in heart desired might honorably be quencht betweene these potent kingdomes of England and Spaine I wish all that reade this to bury old wrongs to pray that it would please God of his inestimable mercie to roote out all malice from Christian Nations and as our Royall Soueraigne now raigning hath conserued league and peace with all Princes so for the weale of Christendome it may more and more increase that the open enemies of Christ may the better be repelled from those wealthy Kingdomes in the East where they haue manie hundred yeeres most barbarously tyrannized for no man doubts but the blood shed within these thirtie yeeres as well of English as Scottish Spanish Dutch and Portugall in the quarrell of Religion might if GOD had so beene pleased beene able to haue driuen the heathen Monarch from his neerest holde in Hungaria to the fall of Danubia in the Euxine Sea especiallie with the assistaunce of the French that haue cruelly falne either vpon others swords But I trust God hath suffered this offence to adde more glory to our mighty King that hee should be the most famous of all his predecessours as indeede hee is the most mighty and hath beene raised to this Realme as a Sauiour to deliuer England make it more abundant in blessings when many lookt it should haue had all her glory swallowed vp of spoile The highnesse of his Emperiall place greatnesse of his blood mightinesse of his alliance but most his constancie in the true profession of Religion euen amid my sorrowes Thenot fill me with ioyes when I consider how a number that gaped for our destruction haue their mouths shut close yet emptie where they thought to eate the sweetes of our painefull sweate but God be praised as I saide before her Highnesse that ruled vs many yeeres in peace left vs in her death more secure by committing vs to our lawfull Prince matcht to a royal fruitfull Lady that hath borne him such hopefull issue that the dayes we lately feared I trust are as farre off as this instant is from the end of all earthly times who shal not only with their royall Father maintaine these his Kingdomes in happy peace but subiect more vnder him and spread the banners of Christ in the face of misbeleeuers In this hope I heere breake off and returne to our late Soueraignes care of keeping Faith euen toward her Rebell subiects which I wil manifest in some two or three examples of the Irish. When the Oneale in the time of that memorable Gentleman Sir Henry Sidney his Deputie-ship of Ireland was mightily strengthned in his Country and so potent that the Deputie had many dangerous skirmishes against him A seruant of her Maiesties one Smith thinking to doe a worthy peece of seruice by poysoning the Oneale prepared a little bottle parted in the middest one side containing good wine the other with tempered poyson of the same colour and that he carries to the Oneale vnder colour of gratification for that his armie lay farre from the Sea or Marchantable Townes and hee thought Wine was vnto him very dainty which the Oneale accepted kindly for that the said Smith was borne in the Oneales Countrey and such the Irish doe especially and before others trust to bring messages euen from their greatest enemies vnder whom they serue But the deceit being quickly spide Smith was by the Oneale sent bound to the Deputie to whose plot he would faine haue imputed the same practise but contrarilie the Deputie publikely punished the said Smith and her Maiestie refus'd him for her seruant saying shee would keepe none neere her that would deale treacherouslie no though it were against traytors The like example was showne on an other that would haue attempted the poysoning of Rory Og a bloody and dangerous Rebell To which may be added that her Highnesse among other trespasses obiected by her Atturney against
Shepheardesse who after long life and glory on earth hath obtained a longer and more glorious life in heauen But to proceede As she was constant in faith stedfast in hope cheerfull in giuing prudent in speaking iust in punishing but most mercifull in pardoning so for the third morrall Vertue Temperance there was in no age before a woman so exalted to earthly honour euer read off that so long so grationsly in outward domestick affaires gouerned her kingdom familie person with like moderation First for her kingdome what can be deuised more neare the meane than she hath in all things followed For in religion as in other things there hath beene an extreame erring from the truth which like all vertues being indeede the head of all keepeth place in the midst so hath shee established the true Catholicke and Apostolicall Religion in this Land neither mingled with multitudes of idle superstitions nor yet wanting true honour and reuerence for the Ministerie in laudable and long receiued ceremonies But here I shall be carpt at in that I call the Religion profest in her time true Catholike and Apostolicall considering the Sea of Rome and such English onely as be her sworne Sonnes thinke that seate all one to holde the Apostolicall faith excluding her Maiestie and all other Christian Princes with their subiectes that haue not falne before that Chaire as people woorthie to be cutte off from Christes congregation giuing them names of Protestants Lutherans and I know not what And on another side a selected company that would needs be counted Saints and holy ones when there is nothing but corruption in their hearts they forsooth condemned her sacred gouernment for Antichristian when to the amazement of superstitious Romanes selfe-praysing Sectuaries God approued her faith by his loue towards her And lest I should be taskd of ignorance and termed a Nullifidian in defending neither of these sides and onely of the faith that the Colliar profest which was euer one with the most I say I was borne and brought vp in the Religion profest by that most Christian Princesse Elizabeth who beleeued not that the spirite of God was bound or tyde to any one place no more to Rome than Antioch that the Candlesticke of any Church might be remooued for neglecting their first loue and teaching traditions of men in steade of sacred veritie and no man can truly denie but the church of Rome hath so taught and standeth not in her first estate but if it were in the Primitiue Church perfectly and fully established then hath it receiued many traditions since which our Elizabeth nor any of her faithfull subiects would obay being no way by Gods worde thervnto warranted besides there is apparant proofes that the church of Rome hath many hundred yeares persecuted with great crueltie which is no badge of the true Apostolicall Church For the other sort it is well knowne they are for the most part ignorant and mechanick people ledde by some fewe hotte spirited fellowes that would faine haue all alike These tying themselues to a more strait course outwardly than other men though they be vtterly obiect to the Romanists yet haue they more he Saints and she Saints among them than are in the Romish Kalender where none or at least very fewe are called Saints but holy Virgins Martyrs and Confessors but all the brethren and sisters of the other side are at the first receiuing into their communiō Sainted if it be but Kit Cobler and Kate his wife and both hee and shee presume they haue as sufficient spirites to teach and expound the Scriptures as either Peter or Iohn or Paule for so bluntly they terme the blessed Apostles but their vanitie and pride our Elizabeth hated and therefore brideled their waies and was not mooued with their hypocriticall fastes because they fasted to strife and debate as it is written by the Prophet Esay 58. and to smite with the fist of wickednes Her Highnes therefore taught all her people the vndoubted truth faith in Christ alone the waye the doore and the life not turning either to the right hand or to the left and in this being the best meane her Temperance chiefly appeared this rule she taught her kingdome her familie her selfe at least caused them to be taught by excellent Pastors to whom humbly she gaue publike eare And in this so for apparell manners and diet she made Lawes and gaue example in her owne person to curbe the vanitie of pride in garments by expresse Statutes appointing all men and women to be apparelled in their degree and calling To expresse the excesse of drinking and hated sinne of drunkennesse she hath commaunded no drinke in her Land to be brued aboue an easie price to auoyd gurmandize she hath yearely commaunded the Lent and Fasting-daies to be kept as in times before not for superstition sake but common policie to haue Gods creatures receiued indifferently and also to encrease Marriners for the strength of the I le whose numbers while fish is contemnd by neglect of fishing mightily decay fishers being indeed pretty traind Marriners by reason that they haue experience in most of the Hauens Creekes Shoales Flats other profits and daungers neare the place they vsed But what should I say if they that will onely make the scripture their cloake and yet respect not this part Obey the Magistrate for conscience their sinne fall vpon themselues I trust the Prince is excusable that would his subiects would do wel and so I am certaine was her Excellence True said Thenot but for all her Lawes these courses were little set by I haue seene vpstarts iette it gayer than Lords numbers drinke till they haue seemde dead and multitudes eate flesh euen vpon good Fryday What remedie said Collin they that will breake the Kings Lawe make little account of Gods such subiects are like falfe Ezecutors that performe not the Legacies of the dead her highnes was not the worse for that good Lawes were violated they that dealt so with her dealt worse with God offending him double by breaking his Lawes and hers But in her owne household and person she obserued all these rules and though many abroad by corruption were winkt at yet sometime there were some taken and paid home But her excelling Selfe though her Table were the aboundantliest furnisht of any Princes in the world with all varietie yet fedde shee oftenest of one dish and that not of the daintiest For quaffing as it was vnfitting her Sexe so shee extreamely abhord it hating superfluitie as hell and so farre was shee from all nicenesse that I haue heard it credibly reported and knowe it by many instances to be true that shee neuer could abide to gaze in a mirrour or looking-glasse no not to behold one while her head was tyred and adorned but simply trusted to her attendant Ladies for the comelinesse of her attire and that this is true Thenot I am the rather perswaded for that when I was yong
dwelling Where Art is euer swelling Your learned Fount forsake Helpe Funerall Songs to make Hang them about her Herse That euer loued Verse Clio writ downe her Story That was the Muses Glory Dryope And ye soft-footed Howers Make ready Cypresse Bowers Insteade of Roses sweete For pleasant Spring-time meete Strew all the pathes with Yeugh Night-shade and bitter Reugh Bid Flora hide her Treasure Say t is no time of pleasure Thenot. And you diuinest Graces Veyle all your sacred faces With your bright shining haire Shew euery signe of care The Hart that was your Phane The cruell Fates haue slaine From earth no powre can raise her Onely our Hymnes may praise her Chloris Muses and Howres and Graces Let all the hallowed places Which the cleere Moone did view Looke with a sable hiew Let not the Sunne be seene But weeping for the Queene That Grace and Muse did cherish O that such worth should perish Collin So turne our verse and on this lofty Pine Each one ingraue for her some Funerall line Thus I beginne Collins Epitaph Eliza Maiden Mirror of this Age Earths true Astraea while she liu'de and raign'de Is throwne by Death from her triumphant Stage But by that fall hath endlesse glorie gain'de And foolish death would faine if he could weepe For killing Her he had no power to keepe Thenots Epitaph Eliza rich and Royall faire and iust Giues heauen her Soule and leaues her Flesh to dust Dryopes Epitaph There is no beautie but it vades No glory but is veyld with shades So is Eliza Queene of Maids stoopt to her Fate Yet Death in this hath little thriu'de For thus her vertues haue atchieu'de She shall by verse liue still reuiu'de in spight of Hate Chloris Epitaph Eliza that astonished her foes Stoopt her rebellious subiects at her feete Whose minde was Still the same in ioy and woes Whose frowne was fearfull and her fauours sweete Swaid all this land but most her selfe she swaide Liu'de a chaste Queene and di'de a Royall Maide These Epitaphs ended the Nymphs and Shepheards led by Collin and Thenot who afore plaide heauy tunes on their oaten Pipes gotte to their seuerall cottages and spent their time till midnight mourning for Eliza But Sleepe the equaller of Kings and captiues banished their sorrowes What humor they are in after rest you shall in the morning heare for commonly as the day is so are our affections disposed ¶ The order and proceeding at the Funerall of the Right High and Mightie Princesse Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland from the Pallace of Westminster called White-hall To the Cathedrall Church of Westminster the 28. of April 1603. FIrst the Knight Marshals men to make way Fifteene poore men Next the 260. poore women by foure and foure Then seruants of Gentlemen Esquiers and Knights Two Porters Next foure Trumpetors After them Rose Pursiuant at Armes Two Sergeants at Armes The Standerd of the Dragon borne by Sir George Bourcher Two Querries leading a horse couered in blacke cloth Then the messengers of the Chamber foure and foure Children of the Almondry Children of the Woodyard Children of the Skullery Children and furners of the pastry The Skalding house The Larder After them Groomes being Wheate porters Coopers Wine-porters Conducts in the Bakehouse Bel-ringer Maker of Spice-bags Cart takers chosen by the bord Long Cartes Cart takers Of the Almery Of the Stable Of the Woodyard Skullery Pastrie Skalding house Poultrie Caterie Boyling house Larder Kitchin Laundrie Ewry Confectionary Wafery Chaundry Pitcherhouse Buttrie Seller Pantrie Bakehouse Counting house Then Noblemens and Embassadors seruants and Groomes of the chamber Foure Trumpetters Blewmantle A Sergeant at Armes The Standerd of the Greyhound borne by M. Herbert brother to the Earle of Penbroke Yomen of the Seruitors in the hall foure and foure Yomen Cart-takers Porters Almondrie Herbingers Woodyard Skullerie Pastriē Poultrie and Scalding house Purueyors of the Poultry Purueyors of the Acatrie Stable Boyling house Larder Kitchin Ewrie Confectionarie Waferie Purueyor of the waxe Tallow Chandler Chaundrie Pitcher house Brewers Buttrie Purueyors Seller Pantrie Garneter Bakehouse Counting house Spicerie Chamber Robes Wardrop Earles and Countesses seruants Foure Trompetors Portcullis A Sergeant at Armes The Standerd of the Lyon borne by M. Thomas Somerset Two Quirries leading a horse trapped with blacke veluet Sergeant of the Vestrie Children of the Chappell in surplesses Gentlemen of the Chappel in copes all of them singing Clearks Deputie Clarke of the Market Clarkes extraordinarie Coferer Diet. M. Cooke for the houshold Pastrie Larder Skullerie Woodyard Poultrie Bakehouse Acatrie Stable Sergeants Gent. Herbinger Wood-yard Scullery Pastry Catery Larder Ewry Seller Pantrie Bakehouse Master Cooke of the Kitchin Clarks of the Querrie Second and third clarke of the Chaundrie Second third clark of the Kitchin Superuisors of the Dresser Surueyer of the dresser for the chamber Musitions Apoticaries and Chirurgions Sewers of the hall Marshall of the hall Sewers of the chamber Groome Porter Gentlemen vshers quarter waiters Clarke Marshall and Auenor Chiefe clarke of the wardrop Chiefe clarke of the Kitchin Two clarkes controllers Clarkes of the greene cloth Maister of the houshold Sir Henrie Cocke cofferer Rouge Dragon A Segeant at Armes The Banner of Chester borne by the L. Zouch betweene two Seargeants at Armes Clarks of the councel foure four Clarks of the priuy Seale Clarks of the Signet Clarks of the Parliament Doctors of Phisicke The Queenes Chaplaines Secretaries for the Latine Italian French tongues Rouge Crosse. Betweene two Seargeants at armes The banner of Cornwall borne by the L. Herbert Sonne and heire to the Earle of VVorcester Officers to the Maior of London Aldermen of London Solliciter Atturney and Sergeant at Lawe Maister of Reuels M. of the tents Knights Bachelors Lord chiefe Baron and Lord chiefe Iustice of the common pleas Maister of the Iewell house Knights which haue been Embassadors and Gentlemen Agents Sewers for the Queene Sewers for the bodie Esquiers of the bodie Gentlemen of the priuie chamber Gentlemen Pensioners houlding their Pol-axes heads down wards couered with blacke The Banner of VVales borne by the Viscount Bindon Maister of the Requests Agents for Venice and the Estates Lord Maior of London Sir Iohn Popham Sir Iohn Fortescue Sir Robert Cicell principall Secretary Controller Treasurer of houshold Windsor Banner of Ireland borne by the Earle of Clanricard Barons Bishops Earles eldest sonnes Viscounts Dukes second sons Earles Marqueses Bishop of Chichester Almoner Preacher at the funeral Lord Keeper Archbishop of Cant. The French Embassador Foure Sergeants of Armes The great Embrodered banner of England borne by the Earle of Penbroke and the Lord Haward of Effingham Somerset and Richmond York Helme and Crest Chester Target Norrey king at Armes Sword Clarenceaux king at Armes Coat The liuely picture of her Highnesse whole body crowned in her Parliament Robes with her Scepter in her hand lying on the corps balmed and leaded couered with Purple veluet borne in a