r the book of the Acts
and Monuments of the Church of England, or both, besides some histories
and chronicles lying therein, for the exercise of such as come into the
same[149]."

[Note 149: Description of England prefixed to Holinshed's
Chronicles.]

Such was the scene over which Elizabeth presided;--such the companions
whom she formed to herself, and in whom she delighted! The new men and
new manners brought in by James I. served more fully to instruct the
nation in the value of all that it had enjoyed under his illustrious
predecessor, the vigor which had rendered her government respectable
abroad; and the wise and virtuous moderation which caused it to beloved
at home, were now recalled with that sense of irreparable loss which
exalts to enthusiasm the sentiment of veneration and the principle of
gratitude; and almost in the same proportion as the sanguinary bigotry
of her predecessor had occasioned her accession to be desired, the
despicable weakness of her successor caused her decease to be regretted
and deplored.

It was on the tenth anniversary of the proclamation of king James that
the eloquent Hall, in his sermon at Paul's Cross, gave utterance to the
general sentiment in the following animated apostrophe to the manes of
the departed sovereign:

* * * * *

"O blessed queen! the mother of this nation, the nurse of this church,
the glory of womanhood, the envy and example of foreign nations, the
wonder of times, how sweet and sacred shall thy memory be to all
posterity!--How excellent were her masculine graces of learning, valor
and wisdom, by which she might justly challenge to be the queen of men!
So learned was she, that she could give present answer to ambassadors in
their own tongues; so valiant, that like Zisca's drum made the proudest
Romanist to quake; so wise, that whatsoever fell out happily against the
common adversary in France, Netherland, Ireland, it was by themselves
ascribed to her policy.

"Why should I speak of her long and successful government, of her
miraculous preservations; of her famous victories, wherein the waters,
wind, fire and earth fought for us, as if they had been in pay under
her; of her excellent laws and careful execution? Many daughters have
done worthily, but thou surmountedest them all. Such was the sweetness
of her government and such the fear of misery in her loss, that many
worthy christians desired that their eyes might be closed be