60

SIMPLE HABITS OF ELIZABETH IN HER YOUTH.

to quit without a sigh. It would be unjust, however, to regard Ascham in the light of a flatterer; for his praises are in most points corroborated by the evidence of history, or by other concurring testimonies. His observations, for instance, on the modest simplicity of Elizabeth's dress and appearance at this early period of her life, which might be received with some incredulity by the reader to whom instances are familiar of her inordinate love of dress at a much more advanced age, and when the cares of a sovereign ought to have left no room for a vanity so puerile, receive strong confirmation from another and very respectable authority.

Dr. Elmer or Aylmer, the same who was tutor to lady Jane Grey, and who became afterwards, during Elizabeth's reign, bishop of London, thus speaks respecting her, in a work entitled 'A Harbour for faithful Subjects.' 'The king left her rich cloaths and jewels; and I know it to be true, that in seven years after her father's death, she never in all that time looked upon that rich attire and precious jewels but once, and that against her will. And that there never came gold or stone upon her head, till her sister forced her to lay off her former soberness, and bear her company in her glittering gayness. And then she so wore it, as every man might see that her body carried that which her heart misliked. I am sure that her maidenly apparel which she used in king Edward's time, made the noblemen's daughters and wives to be ashamed to be dressed and painted like peacocks; being more moved with her most virtuous example than with all that ever Paul or Peter wrote touching that matter. Yea, this I know, that a great man's daughter (lady Jane Grey) receiving from lady Mary before she was queen good apparel of tinsel, cloth of gold and velvet, laid on with parchment lace of gold, when she saw it, said; "What shall I do with it ?" "Mary,” said a gentlewoman, “wear it.” Nay,” ,"quoth she, "that were a shame, to follow my lady Mary against God's word, and leave my lady Elizabeth which followeth God's word." And when all the ladies, at the coming of the Scots queen-dowager*, went with their hair frowsed, curled and double curled, she altered nothing, but kept her old maidenly shamefacedness.' [Strype.] This extract may be regarded as particularly curious, as an exemplification of the rigid turn of sentiment which prevailed at the court of young Edward, and of the degree in which Elizabeth conformed herself to it. There is a print from a portrait of her when young, in which the hair is without a single ornament, and the whole dress remarkably simple.

66

The other learned females whom Ascham has complimented by addressing them in Latin epistles, were, Anne countess of Pembroke, sister of queen Catherine Parr; a young lady of the name of Vaughan ; Jane Grey; and Mrs. Clark, a grand-daughter of sir Thomas More, by his favorite daughter Mrs. Roper. In his letter to this last lady, written * Mary of Guise, who visited England in the time of Edward VI.

during the reign of Mary, after congratulating her on her cultivation, amid the luxury and dissipation of a court, of studies worthy the descendant of a man whose high qualities had ennobled England in the estimation of foreign nations, he proceeds to mention, that he is the person whom, several years ago, her excellent mother had requested to undertake the instruction of all her children in Greek and Latin literature. At that time, he says, no offer could tempt him to quit his learned retirement at Cambridge, and he was reluctantly compelled to decline the proposal; but being now once more established at court, he freely offers to a lady whose accomplishments he so much admires, any assistance in her very laudable pursuits which it may be in his power to afford.

A few more scattered notices may be collected relative to this period of the life of Elizabeth. Her talents, her vivacity, her proficiency in those classical studies to which he was himself addicted, and especially the attachment which she manifested to the reformed religion, endeared her exceedingly to the young king her brother, who was wont to call her,—perhaps with reference to the sobriety of dress and manners by which she was then distinguished,—his sweet sister Temperance. On her part, his affection was met by every demonstration of sisterly tenderness, joined to those delicate attentions and respectful observances which his rank required.

It was probably about 1550 that she addressed to him the following letter on his having desired her picture, which affords perhaps the most favorable specimen extant of her youthful style.

'Like as the rich man that daily gathereth riches to riches, and to one bag of money layeth a great sort till it come to infinite; so methinks your majesty, not being sufficed with so many benefits and gentleness shewed to me afore this time, doth now increase them in asking and desiring where you may bid and command; requiring a thing not worthy the desiring for itself, but made worthy for your highnesses' request. My picture I mean: in which, if the inward good mind toward your grace might as well be declared as the outward face and countenance shall be seen, I would not have tarried the commandment but prevented it, nor have been the last to grant but the first to offer it. For the face I grant I might well blush to offer, but the mind I shall never be ashamed to present. But though from the grace of the picture the colors may fade by time, may give by weather, may be spited by chance; yet the other, nor time with her swift wings shall overtake, nor the misty clouds with their lowering may darken, nor chance with her slippery foot may overthrow.

'Of this also yet the proof could not be great, because the occasions have been so small; notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds, which now I do write them but in words. And further, I shall humbly beseech your majesty, that

62 PROGRESS THROUGH LONDON OF THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH

when you shall look on my picture, you will witsafe to think, that as you have but the outward shadow of the body afore you, so my inward mind wisheth that the body itself were oftener in your presence. Howbeit because both my so being I think could do your majesty little pleasure, though myself great good; and again, because I see not as yet the time agreeing thereunto, I shall learn to follow this saying of Horace ‘Feras, non culpas, quod vitari non protest. And thus I will (troubling your majesty I fear) end with my most humble thanks ; beseeching God long to preserve you to his honor, to your comfort, to the realm's profit, and to my joy.

'(From Hatfield this 15th day of May.)

'Your majesty's most humble sister and servant,

'ELIZABETH.'

An exact moralist has preserved an instance of the high consideration at this time enjoyed by Elizabeth in the following passage, which is curious as an instance of the state which she already assumed in her public appearances. 'March 17th (1551). The lady Elizabeth, the king's sister, rode through London unto St. James's, the king's palace, with a great company of lords, knights, and gentlemen; and after her a great company of ladies and gentlemen on horseback, about two hundred. On the 19th she came from St. James's through the park to the court; the way from the park gate unto the court spread with fine sand. She was attended with a very honorable confluence of noble and worshipful persons of both sexes, and received with much ceremony at the court gate.' [Strype.]

The ensuing letter, however, seems to intimate that there were those about the young king who envied her these tokens of favor and credit, and were sometimes but too successful in estranging her from the royal presence, and in exciting prejudices against her. It is unfortunately without date of year.

"The princess Elizabeth to king Edward VI.

'Like as a shipman in stormy weather plucks down the sails tarrying for better wind, so did I, most noble king, in my unfortunate chance a Thursday pluck down the high sails of my joy and comfort; and do trust one day, that as troublesome waves have repulsed me backward, so a gentle wind will bring me forward to my haven. Two chief occasions moved me much and grieved me greatly: the one for that I doubted your majesty's health; the other, because for all my long tarrying, I went without that I came for. Of the first I am relieved in a part, both that I understand of your health, and also that your majesty's lodging is far from my lord marques' chamber: of my other grief I am not eased; but the best is, that whatsoever other folks will suspect, I intend not to fear your grace's good will, which as I know that I never deserved to faint, so I trust will still stick by me. For if your grace's advice that I should return (whose will is a com

mandment) had not been, I would not have made the half of my way the end of my journey.

'And thus as one desirous to hear of your majesty's health though unfortunate to see it, I shall pray God to preserve you. (From Hatfield this present Saturday.)

'Your majesty's humble sister to commandment,

'ELIZABETH.'

CHAP V. 1549 TO 1553

Decline of the protector's authority.-He is imprisoned — accused of misdemeanors-loses his office-is liberated-reconciled with Dudley, who succeeds to his authority.-Dudley pushes on the reformation.— The celebration of the mass prohibited.-Princess Mary persecuted.— The emperor attempts to get her out of the kingdom, but without success-interferes openly in her behalf.-Effect of persecution on the mind of Mary.-Marriage proposed for Elizabeth with the prince of Denmark. She declines it.—King betrothed to a princess of France. -Sweating sickness.-Death of the duke of Suffolk.-Dudley procures that title for the marquis of Dorset, and the dukedom of Northumberland for himself.-Particulars of the last earl of Northumberland. -Trial, conviction, and death of the duke of Somerset.-Christmas festivities of the young king.—Account of George Ferrers, master of the king's pastimes, and his works.-Views of Northumberland. Decline of the king's health.-Scheme of Northumberland for lady Jane Grey's succession.—Three marriages contrived by him for this purpose. He procures a settlement of the crown on the lady Jane.— Subserviency of the council.-Death of Edward concealed by Northumberland. The princesses narrowly escape falling into his hands.Courageous conduct of Elizabeth.-Northumberland deserted by the council and the army.-lady Jane Grey imprisoned.—Northumberland arrested.-Mary mounts the throne.

IT was to little purpose that the protector had stained his hands with the blood of his brother, for the exemption which he had thus purchased from one kind of fear or danger, was counterbalanced by a degree of public odium which could not fail to shake an authority, based, like his, merely on unresisted usurpation.

Other causes conspired to undermine his credit and prepare his overthrow. The enmity of the great nobles, which he exasperated by a somewhat ostentatious patronage of the lower classes against the rich and powerful, continually pursued and watched the opportunity to ruin him. Financial difficulties pressed upon him, occasioned in great measure by the wars with France and Scotland, which he had carried

64 PROTECTOR SOMERSET HURLED FROM HIS PLACE OF POWER.

on, in pursuance of Henry's design of compelling the Scotch to marry their young queen to his son :-an object which had been finally frustrated, notwithstanding the vigilance of the English fleet, by the safe arrival of Mary in France and her solemn betrothment to the dauphin. The great and glorious work of religious reformation, though followed by Somerset, under the guidance of Cranmer, with a moderation and prudence which reflect the highest honor on both, could not be brought to perfection without exciting the rancorous hostility of thousands, whom various motives and interests attached to the cause of ancient superstition; and the abolition of the mass, and destruction of images and crucifixes by public authority, had given rise to serious disturbances in different parts of the country. The want and oppression under which the lower classes groaned, which they attributed partly to the suppression of the monasteries, to which they had been accustomed to resort for the supply of their necessities, partly to a general inclosure bill extremely cruel and arbitrary in its provisions, excited commotions still more violent and alarming. In order to suppress an insurrection in Norfolk, headed by one Kett, it had at length been found necessary to send thither a large body of troops under the earl of Warwick; and this leader had acquired a very formidable degree of celebrity by the courage and conduct which he exhibited in bringing this difficult enterprise to a successful termination.

A party was now formed in the council, of which the earls of Warwick, Southampton, and Arundel, and lord St. John were the chiefs; and strong resolutions were entered into against the assumed authority of the protector. This unfortunate man, whom an inconsiderate ambition, fostered by favorable circumstances, had pushed upward into a station equally above his talents and his birth, showed himself destitute in the hour of trial, of all the resources of courage and genius which might yet have retrieved his authority and credit. He suffered himself to be surprised into acts expressive of dismay and conscious weakness, which soon robbed him of his remaining partisans, and gave to his enemies all the advantage which they desired.

His committal to the Tower on several charges, of which his assumption of the whole authority of the state was the principal, soon followed. A short time after he was deprived of his high office, which was nominally vested in six members of the council, but really in the earl of Warwick; whose private ambition seems to have been the mainspring of the whole intrigue, and who thus became, almost without a struggle, undisputed master of the king and kingdom.

That poorness of spirit which had sunk the duke of Somerset into insignificance, saved him at present from further harm. In the beginning of the ensuing year, 1550, having on his knees confessed himself guilty of all the matters laid to his charge, without reservation or exception, and humbly submitted himself to the king's mercy, he was