Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth

As long as that style of domestic architecture prevailed in which every story was made to project considerably beyond the one beneath it, the upper room, from its superior size and lightsomeness, appears to have been that dedicated to the entertainment of guests.

39

Holinshed's Chronicles.

40

Harrington's "Brief View."

41

Bacon's "Apophthegms."

42

Warton's "History of English Poetry," vol. iii. p. 202 et seq.

43

See "The Merchant of Venice."

44

Collins's "Historical Collections."

45

Bohun's "Character of Queen Elizabeth."

46

"Burleigh Papers," by Haynes, p. 212.

47

See Camden's "Remains."

48

"Burleigh Papers" by Haynes, p. 368.

49

"Burleigh Papers" by Haynes.

50

It was by no remissness on the part of the queen that this town was lost; the preservation of which was an object very near her heart, as appears from a letter of encouragement addressed by the privy-council to Warwick, which has the following postscript in her own handwriting.

"My dear Warwick; If your honor and my desire could accord with the loss of the needfullest finger I keep, God so help me in my utmost need as I would gladly lose that one joint for your safe abode with me; but since I cannot that I would, I will do that I may, and will rather drink in an ashen cup than you or yours should not be succoured both by sea and land, yea, and that with all speed possible, and let this my scribbling hand witness it to them all.

"Yours as my own,"E.R."

See "Archæologia," vol. xiii. p. 201.

51

"Archæologia," vol. ii. p. 169.

52

Strype's "Annals," vol. i. p. 398.

53

A seeming contradiction to the assertions in the text may be discovered in the circumstance that Elizabeth is the nominal foundress of Jesus College Oxford. But it was at the expense, as well as at the suggestion, of Dr. Price, a patriotic Welshman, that this seminary of learning, designed for the reception of his fellow-countrymen, was instituted. Her name, a charter of incorporation dated June 27th 1571, and some timber from her forests of Stow and Shotover, were the only contributions of her majesty towards an object so laudable, and of which the inadequate funds of the real founder long delayed the accomplishment.

54

Melvil's "Memoirs," passim.

55

It is on the authority of Strype's "Annals" that this offer of Charles IX. to Elizabeth is recorded. Hume, Camden, Rapin, are all silent respecting it; but as it seems that Catherine dei Medici was at the time desirous of the appearance of a closer connexion with Elizabeth, it is not improbable that she might throw out some hint of this nature without any real wish of bringing about an union in all respects so unsuitable.

56

Naunton's "Fragmenta Regalia."

57

Naunton's "Fragmenta Regalia."

58

"Worthies in Leicestershire."

59

In the original, "and Prometheus," but evidently by a mere slip of the pen.

60

The words web and loom in this sentence ought certainly to be transposed.

61

Strype's "Annals."

62

Warton's "History of English Poetry."

63

Mr. Warton apparently forgets that guineas were first coined by Charles II.

64

"Scrinia Ceciliana."

65

See the French original in Robertson's "Hist. of Scotland," vol. iii. Append. xix.

66

Lodge's "Illustrations," vol. i.

67

Scrinia Ceciliana.

68

"Illustrations" &c. by Lodge, vol. ii.

69

See Percy's "Reliques," vol. ii.

70

Letter of R. Whyte in "Sidney Papers."

71

See "Every Man out of his Humour."

72

"Burleigh Papers" by Haynes.

73

"Royal and Noble Authors."

74

"His Bilboa blade, by marchmen felt,Hung in a broad and studded belt;Hence in rude phrase the Borderers stillCall noble Howard Belted Will."Lay of the Last Minstrel.

75

Thus we find sir George Manners, ancestor of the dukes of Rutland, who died in 1513, bequeathing to each of his unmarried daughters a portion of three hundred marks to be paid at the time of their marriage, or within four years after if the husband be not twenty-one years of age; or at such time as the husband came of age.

Collins's "Peerage," by sir E. Brydges.

76

"Illustrations" by Lodge.

77

Reidani "Annal." Vide Bayle's "Dictionary," art. Elizabeth.

78

"Sidney Papers," vol. i.

79

"Sidney Papers," vol. i.

80

"Sidney Papers."

81

Dr. Whitgift, then bishop of Worcester and vice-president of the marches of Wales under sir Henry Sidney, peculiarly distinguished himself by his activity in detecting secret meetings of catholics for the purpose of hearing mass and practising other rites of their religion. The privy-council, in reward of his zeal, promised to direct to him and to some of the Welsh bishops a special commission for the trial of these delinquents. They further instructed him, in the case of one Morice who had declined answering directly to certain interrogatories tending to criminate himself in these matters, that if he remained obstinate, and the commissioners saw cause, they might at their discretion cause some kind of torture to be used upon him. The same means he was also desired to take with others; in order to come to a full knowledge of all reconcilements to the church of Rome, and other practices of the papists in these parts. See Strype's "Whitgift," p. 83.

82

"Illustrations," by Lodge, vol. ii. p. 187.

83

"Illustrations," &c. vol. ii.

84

"Burleigh Papers," by Murdin, passim.

85

"Nugæ."

86

Strype's "Whitgift."

87

Birch's "Memoirs."

88

"Complete Gentleman," by H. Peacham.

89

Holinshed.

90

Berkenhout's "Biographia Literaria," p. 377, note a.

91

"Shakspeare and his Times:" &c. by Nathan Drake, M.D.

92

"Illustrations," vol. ii. p. 258.

93

"Nugæ."

94

"Life of Whitgift" by Strype.

95

"Sidney Papers."

96

"Sidney Papers," vol. i. p. 276.

97

Hollinshed's Castrations.

98

Life of Whitgift, by Strype.

99

Strype's Annals, vol. iii. p. 450.

100

Birch's Memoirs.

101

Fragmenta Regalia.

102

Fuller's Worthies in Kent.

103

It may be regarded as dubious whether this expression is to be understood literally or metaphorically.

104

"Illustrations" by Lodge.

105

Lists of the New Year's Gifts received by Elizabeth during many years have more than once appeared in print. They show that not only jewels, trinkets, rich robes, and every ornamental article of dress, were abundantly supplied to her from this source, but that sets of body linen worked with black silk round the bosom and sleeves, were regarded as no inappropriate offering from peers of the realm to the maiden-queen. The presents of the bishops and of some of the nobility always consisted of gold pieces, to the value of from five to twenty or thirty pounds, contained in embroidered silk purses. Her majesty distributed at the same season pieces of gilt plate; but not always to the same persons from whom she had received presents, nor, apparently, to an equal amount.

106

"Sidney Papers."

107

I have quoted this passage partly for the sake of the express and authentic testimony which it bears to the fact of Surry's having visited Italy, which Mr. Chalmers and after him Dr. Nott, in their respective biographies of the noble poet, have been induced to call in question.

108

Spenser published this work under the signature of "Immerito."

109

Art of English Poesy, book i.

110

Art of English Poesy, book iii.

111

See Historical Collections, by Collins.

112

See Bohun's Character of Queen Elizabeth. Among the various sources whence the preceding dramatic notices have been derived, it is proper to point out Dr. Drake's Memoirs of Shakspeare and his Age, and Warton's History of English Poetry.

113

Nugæ.

114

Birch's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 96.

115

Osborne's "Introduction" to his Essays.

116

See Sidney Papers, passim.

117

Camden's Annals. Peerage, by Sir E. Brydges.

118

See A Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors, by lord Orford.

119

Harrington's Brief View.

120

Strype's Annals.

121

Nugæ Antiquæ.

122

Birch's Memoirs.

123

In connexion with this subject the following letter appears worthy of notice.

Hutton Archbishop of York to the lord treasurer:—

I am bold at this time to inform your lordship, what ill success I had in a suit for a pardon for Miles Dawson, seminary priest, whom I converted wholly the last summer from popery. Upon his coming to church, receiving the holy communion and taking the oath of supremacy, I and the council here, about Michaelmas last, joined in petition to her majesty for her gracious pardon, and commended the matter to one of the masters of requests, and writ also to Mr. Secretary to further it if need were, which he willingly promised to do. In Michaelmas term nothing was done. And therefore in Hilary term, I being put in mind that all was not done in that court for God's sake only, sent up twenty French crowns of mine own purse, as a small remembrance for a poor man's pardon, which was thankfully accepted of.

Some say that Mr. Topcliffe did hinder his pardon; who protesteth that he knoweth no cause to stay it. There is some fault somewhere, I know it is not in her majesty. Of whom I will say, as the prophet David speaketh of God, "Hath queen Elizabeth forgotten to be gracious? And is her mercy come to an end for evermore?" Absit. The whole world knoweth the contrary. Your lordship may do very well in mine opinion to move Mr. Secretary Cecil to deal often in these works of mercy. It will make him beloved of God and man.

(Dated York, May 1597.)

124

Fuller.

125

M.S. in Dr. Haynes's extracts from the Salisbury collection.—I am unable to discover to what particular circumstance this angry letter refers.

126

Weldon's Court of King James.

127

Du Bartas, then an admired writer in England as well as France.

128

Warton's History of English Poetry, vol. iv.

129

See Nugæ Antiquæ.

130

Birch.

131

Lord Buckhurst had succeeded to the office of lord treasurer on the death of Burleigh.

132

Nugæ Antiquæ.

133

Rowland Whyte in Sidney Papers.

134

Nugæ.

135

Nugæ.

136

Bohun's Memoirs.

137

The mysterious affair of the Gowrie conspiracy is probably here alluded to.

138

Sir John Harrington in Nugæ.

139

Confession of sir Charles Davers, in Birch's Memoirs.

140

Birch's Memoirs.

141

Changed in countenance.

142

Harrington had been at a conference held with him by Essex; for which he had been severely rated by the queen.

143

Carte.

144

Printed in Nichols's Progresses.

145

See the evidence for this extraordinary story fully stated in Birch's Negotiations. On the whole, it appears sufficient to warrant our belief; yet it should be remarked that the accounts which have come down to us differ from each other in some important points, and are traceable to no original witness of the interview between the queen and the countess.

146

Bohun's Character of Queen Elizabeth.

147

Bohun's Character of Queen Elizabeth.

148

Bohun's Character of Queen Elizabeth.

149

Description of England prefixed to Holinshed's Chronicles.

150

Views of most of the buildings here mentioned may be found in Britton's Architectural Antiquities, vols. i. ii. and iv.

151

Lysons's Environs of London, vol. iv.