CHAP. XXVII.

ELIZABETH (Continued.)

HAVING thus far attended the queen of Scotland, whose conduct and misfortunes make such a distinguished figure in this reign, we now return to some transactions, prior in point of time, but of less consideration.

A. D.

1562.

In the beginning of this reign, the Hugonots, or reformed party in France, were obliged to call in the protection of the English; and in order to secure their confidence, as they were possessed of the greatest part of Normandy, they offered to put Havre into the queen's hands, a proffer which she immediately accepted. She wisely considered, that as that part commanded the mouth of the river Seine, it was of much more importance than Calais; and she could thus have the French still in her power. Accordingly three thousand English took possession of Havre and Dieppe, under the command of Sir Edward Poinings, but the latter place was found so little capable of being defended, that it was immediately abandoned. But Havre itself was obliged to capitulate shortly after. Although the garrison was reinforced, and was found to amount to six thousand men; and every, means was employed for putting the town in a posture of defence against the great army that was preparing to besiege it, yet it felt a severer enemy within the walls; for the plague had got into the town, and committed such havoc among the soldiers, that an hundred were commonly seen to die of it in one day. The garrison, being thus dispirited, and diminished to fifteen hundred men, finding

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finding the French army indefatigable in their approaches, were obliged to capitulate; and thus the English lost all hopes of ever making another establishment in the kingdom of France. This misfortune was productive of one still more dreadful to the nation, for the English army carried back the plague with them to London, which made such ravages, that twenty thousand persons died there in one year,

This, if we except the troubles raised A. D. upon the account of Mary, seems to 1563. have been the first disaster that, for above thirteen years, any way contribut ed to disturb the peace of this reign. Elizabeth, ever vigilant, active, and resolute, attended to the slightest alarms and repressed them before they were capable of producing their effect. Her frugality kept her independent, and her dissimulation (for she could dissemble) made her beloved. The opinion of the royal prerogative was such, that her commands were obeyed as statutes; and she took care that her parliaments should never venture to circumscribe her power.- -In her schemes of government she was assisted by lord Burleigh, aud Sir Anthony Bacon, two of the most able ministers that ever directed the affairs of England; but while she committed to them all the drudgery of duty, her favourite Robert Dudley, carl of Leicester, engrossed all her favour, and secured all the avenues to preferment. All requests were made through him; and nothing given away without his consent and approbation. His merits, however, were by no means adequate to his successes; he was weak, vain, and boastful; but these qualities did no injury to the state, as his two co-adjutors were willing, while he maintained all the splendour of office, to secure to themselves the more solid emoluments.

During this peaceable and uniform government, England furnishes but few materials for history. While France was torn with internal convulsions; while above two thousand of the Hugonots were massacred in one night, in cold blood, on the feast of St. Bartholomew at Paris; while the inhabitants of the Low Countries had shaken off the Spanish yoke, and were bravely vindicating their rights and their religion; while all the rest of Europe was teeming with plots, seditions, and cruelty; the English under their wise queen, were enjoying all the benefits of peace, extending commerce, improving manufactures; and setting an example of arts and learning to all the rest of the world. Except the small part, therefore, which Elizabeth took in foreign transactions, there scarce passed any occurrence which requires a particular detail.

There had for some time arisen disgusts between the court of England and that of Spain. Elizabeth having rejected the suit of Philip, might probably have given rise to these disgusts; and after that, Mary's claiming the protection of that monarch, tended still more to widen the breach. This began, as usual on each side, with petty hostilities; the Spaniards, on their part, had sent into Ireland a body of seven hundred of their nation, and Italians, who built a fort there; but were soon after cut off to a man, by the Duke of Ormond. On the other hand, the English, under the conduct of Sir Francis Drake, assaulted the Spaniards in the place where they deemed themselves most secure, in the New World. This was the first Englishman that sailed round the globe; and the queen was so well pleased with his valour and success, that she accepted a banquet from him at Deptford, on board the ship which had atchieved so memorable a voyage.

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In this manner, while hostilities were daily multiplying between Spain and England, and while the power of Spain, as well as the monarch's inclinations, were very formidable to the queen, she began to look out for an alliance that night support her against such a dangerous adversary. The duke of Anjou had long made pretensions to Elizabeth; and though she was near twenty-five years older than he, he took the.resolution to prefer his suit in person, and paid her a visit in secret at Greenwich. It appears, that tho' his figure was not advantageous, his address was pleasing. The queen ordered her ministers to fix the terms of the contract; a day was appointed for the solemnization of their nuptials, and every thing seemed to speak an approaching union. But Elizabeth could not be induced, as that event appeared to approach, to change her condition; she appeared doubtful, irresolute, and melancholy; she was observed to pass several nights without any sleep, till at last her settled habits of prudence prevailed over her ambition, and the duke of Anjou was dismissed.

The queen thus depriving herself of a foreign ally, looked for approbation and assistance from her own subjects at home. Yet even here she was not without numberless enemies, who either hated her for religion, or envied her for success. There were several conspiracies formed against her life, many of which were imputed to the intrigues of the queen of Scots, at least it is certain that her name was used in all. Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland, brother to him beheaded some years before, and Philip Howard earl of Arundel, son to the unfortunate duke of Norfolk, fell under suspicion; and the latter was by order of council, confined to his own house. Francis Throgmorton, a private gentleman, was cóm

mitted to custody, on account of a letter which he had written to the queen of Scots; and shortly after confessing his guilt, he was condeinned and executed. Soon after William Parry, a catholic gentleman, who had on a former occasion received the queen's pardon, was found engaged in a des. perate conspiracy to assassinate his sovereign and benefactor. He had consulted upon the justice and expediency of this vile measure both with the pope's nuncio and legate, who exhorted him to persevere in his resolution, and extremely applauded his design. He, therefore, associated himself with one Nevil, who entered zealously into the design; and it was determined to shoot the queen, while she was taking the air on horseback. But while they were watching an opportunity for the execution of their purpose, the earl of Westmorland happened to die in exile; and as Nevil was next heir to the family, he began to entertain hopes, that by doing some acceptable service to the queen, he might recover the estate and honours which had been forfeited by the rebellion of the last earl. He betrayed the whole conspiracy to the ministers; and Parry being thrown into prison confessed the guilt both to them, and to the jury who tried him. He was shortly after condemned

and executed.

These attempts, which were entirely set on foot by the catholic party, served to encrease the severity of the laws against them. Popish priests were banished the kingdom; those who harboured or relieved them were declared guilty of felony; and many were executed in consequence of this. severe edict. Nor was the queen of Scots herself without some share of the punishment. She was removed from under the care of the earl of Shrewsbury, who had always been indulgent

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