of her sex and age. The address
was couched in the most respectful expressions, yet met with a refusal
from the queen.

* 1 Eliz. cap. 2.

** See note A, at the end of the volume.

{1559.} She told the speaker, that, as the application from the house
was conceived in general terms, only recommending marriage, without
pretending to direct her choice of a husband, she could not take offence
at the address, or regard it otherwise than as a new instance of their
affectionate attachment to her: that any further interposition on their
part, would have ill become either them to make as subjects, or her
to bear as an independent princess: that even while she was a private
person, and exposed to much danger, she had always declined that
engagement, which she regarded as an encumbrance; much more, at present,
would she persevere in this sentiment, when the charge of a great
kingdom was committed to her, and her life ought to be entirely
devoted to promoting the interests of religion and the happiness of her
subjects: that as England was her husband, wedded to her by this pledge,
(and here she showed her finger with the same gold ring upon it
with which she had solemnly betrothed herself to the kingdom at her
inauguration,) so all Englishmen were her children, and while she was
employed in rearing or governing such a family, she could not deem
herself barren, or her life useless and unprofitable: that if she
ever entertained thoughts of changing her condition, the care of her
subjects' welfare would still be uppermost in her thoughts; but should
she live and die a virgin, she doubted not but divine Providence,
seconded by their counsels and her own measures, would be able to
prevent all dispute with regard to the succession, and secure them a
sovereign who, perhaps better than her own issue, would imitate her
example in loving and cherishing her people; and that for her part, she
desired that no higher character, or fairer remembrance of her should be
transmitted to posterity, than to have this inscription engraved on
her tombstone, when she should pay the last debt to nature: "Here lies
Elizabeth, who lived and died a maiden queen."[*]

After the prorogation of the parliament,[**] the laws enacted with
regard to religion were put in execution, and met with little opposition
from any quarter. The liturgy was again introduced in the vulgar tongue,
and the oath of supremacy was tendered to the clergy. The number of
bi