evidently], and (if it be thoroughly confidered) for the foldiery and military forces of the realm. Inclosures at that time began to be more frequent, whereby arable land (which could not be manured [=cultivated] without people and families) was turned into pasture, which was eafily rid by a few herdfmen, and tenancies for years, lives, and at will (whereupon much of the yeomanry lived) were turned into demefnes [=lands kept by the lord of the manor in his own hands]. This bred a decay of people, and of confequence a decay of towns, churches, tithes, and the like. The King [Henry VII.] likewife knew full well, and in no wife forgot, that there enfued withal upon this a decay and diminution of fubfidies and taxes, for the more gentlemen ever the lower books of fubfidies. In remedying of this inconvenience the King's wisdom was admirable, and the Parliament's at that time. Inclosures they would not forbid, for that had been to forbid the improvement of the patrimony of the kingdom [i.e., by reafon of a more productive cultivation]; nor tillage they would not compel, for that was to strive with nature and utility: but they took a course to take away depopulating inclosures and depopulating pafturage, and yet not by this name or by any imperious express prohibition, but by confequence. (Life of Henry VII.) QUEEN ELIZABETH. 1. Circumftances of her Acceffion-her Courage. No praise of magnanimity, nor of love, nor of knowledge, can intercept her praise, that planteth and nourisheth magnanimity by her example, love by her perfon, and knowledge by the peace and ferenity of her times. And if these rich pieces be fo fair unfet, what are they fet, and fet in all perfection? Magnanimity, no doubt, confifteth in contempt of peril, in contempt of profit, and in meriting of the times wherein one liveth. For contempt of peril, fee a lady that cometh to a crown after the experience of fome adverfe fortune, which for the most part extenuateth (= attenuateth) the mind and maketh it apprehenfive of fears. No fooner fhe taketh the fceptre into her facred hands but she putteth on a resolution to make the greatest, the most important, the most dangerous [change] that can be in a State -the alteration of religion. This she doth, not after a sovereignty established and continued by fundry years, when custom might have bred in her people a more abfolute obedience-when trial of her fervants might have made her more affured whom to employ-when the reputation of her policy and virtue. might have made her government redoubted; but at the very entrance of her reign, when she was green in authority, her fervants scant known unto her, the adverse part not weakened, her own part not confirmed. Neither doth fhe reduce or reunite her realm to the religion of the States about her, that the evil inclination of the fubject might be counteracted by the good correfpondence in foreign parts; but contrariwife, fhe introduceth a religion exterminated and perfecuted both at home and abroad. Her proceeding herein is not by degrees and by stealth, but abfolute and at once. Was the encouraged thereto by the ftrength fhe found in leagues and alliances with great and potent confederates ? No; but fhe found her realm in wars with her nearest and mightiest neighbours. She stood fingle and alone, and in league only with one that, after the people of her nation had made his wars, left her to make her own peace; one that could never be by any folicitation moved to renew the treaties; and one that fince hath proceeded from doubtful terms of amity to the highest acts of hoftility. Yet, notwithstanding the oppofition fo great, the fupport fo weak, the season fo improper; yet, I fay, because it was a religion wherein she was nourished and brought up a religion that freed her fubjects from pretence of foreign powers; and, indeed, the true religion-she brought to pass this great work with fuccefs, worthy so noble a refolution. See a queen that, when a deep and fecret confpiracy was plotted against her facred perfon, practised by subtle inftruments, embraced by violent and defperate humours, fharpened and bound by vows and facraments, and the fame was revealed unto her (and yet the nature of the affairs required further ripening before the apprehenfion of any of the parties), was content to put herself into the guard of the Divine Providence and her own prudence, to have some of the confpirators in her eyes, to fuffer them to approach to her perfon, to take a petition of the hand that was conjured for her death, and that with fuch majefty of countenance, fuch mildnefs and ferenity of gefture, fuch art and impreffion of words, as had been fufficient to have repreffed and bound the hand of a confpirator if he had not been discovered. Laftly, fee a queen that when her realm was to have been invaded by an army, the preparation whereof was like the travail of an elephant, the provisions were infinite, the setting forth whereof was the terror and wonder of Europe; it was not seen that her cheer, her fashion, her ordinary manner was anything altered-not a cloud of that storm did appear on that countenance, wherein peace doth ever fhine; but with excellent affurance and advised fecurity, fhe infpired her Council, animated her nobility, redoubled the courage of her people, ftill having this |