and bestowed on
them the fashionable education of the time. Indeed their houses were
the best, if not then the only schools of elegant learning. The
following letter, written in 1595, is from a young lady thus situated:

"To my good mother Mrs. Pake, at Broumfield, deliver this.

"Deare Mother,

"My humble dutye remembred unto my father and you, &c. I
received upon Weddensday last a letter from my father
and you, whereby, I understand, it is your pleasures
that I should certifie you what times I do take for my
lute, and the rest of my exercises. I doe for the most
part playe of my lute after supper, for then commonlie
my lady heareth me; and in the morninges, after I am
reddie, I play an hower; and my wrightinge and
siferinge, after I have done my lute. For my drawinge I
take an hower in the afternowne, and my French at night
before supper. My lady hath not bene well these tooe or
three dayes: she telleth me, when she is well, that she
will see if Hilliard will come and teche me; if she can
by any means she will, &c. &c.--As touchinge my newe
corse in service, I hope I shall performe my dutye to my
lady with all care and regard to please her, and to
behave myselfe to everye one else as it shall become me.
Mr. Harrisone was with me upone Fridaye; he heard me
playe, and brought me a dusson of trebles; I had some of
him when I came to London. Thus desiring pardone for my
rude writinge, I leave you to the Almightie, desiringe
him to increase in you all health and happines.

"Your obedient daughter,

"Rebecca Pake."

Could any thing afford a stronger contrast to the grave and certainly
severe study to which Elizabeth had habituated herself, than the vain
and fantastic puerility of many of her recreations and habits,--the
unintellectual brutality of the bearbaits which she admired, or the
gaudy and glittering pageants in which she delighted? She built a
gallery at Whitehall at immense expense, and so superficially, that it
was in ruins in her successor's time; but it was raised, in order to
afford a magnificent reception to the ambassadors who, in 1581, came
to treat of an alliance with the Duke of Anjou. It was framed of
timber, covered with painted canvas, and decorated with the utmost
gaudiness. Pendants of fruit of various kinds (amongst which cucumbers
and even carrots are enumerated) were hung fr