An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8)
History
An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8)
English literature
When the City's charge without partiality, and only the City, was
mentioned unto Her Grace; she said, "It should not be forgotten!" Which
saying might move all natural Englishmen heartily to shew due obedience
and entireness to their so good a Queen, which will, in no point,
forget any parcel of duty lovingly shewed unto her.
The answer which Her Grace made unto Master Recorder of London, as the
hearers know it to be true and with melting hearts heard the same,
so may the reader thereof conceive what kind of stomach and courage
pronounced the same.
What more famous thing do we read in ancient histories of old time,
than that mighty Princes have gently received presents offered them
by base and low personages. If that be to be wondered at, as it is
passingly! let me see any writer that in any one Prince's life is able
to recount so many precedents of this virtue, as Her Grace shewed in
that one Passage through the City. How many nosegays did Her Grace
receive at poor women's hands? How ofttimes stayed she her chariot,
when she saw any simple body offer to speak to Her Grace? A branch of
rosemary given to Her Grace, with a supplication, by a poor woman,
about Fleet Bridge, was seen in her chariot till Her Grace came to
Westminster; notwithstanding the marvellous wondering of such as knew
the presenter, and noted the Queen's most gracious receiving and
keeping the same.
What hope the poor and needy may look for, at Her Grace's hand;
she, as in all her journey continually, so in her hearkening to the
poor children of Christ's Hospital, with eyes cast up unto heaven,
did fully declare; as that neither the wealthier estate could stand
without consideration had to the poverty, neither the poverty be duly
considered unless they were remembered, as commanded to us by GOD's own
mouth.
As at her first Entrance, she, as it were, declared herself prepared to
pass through a City that most entirely loved her; so she, at her last
Departing, as it were, bound herself by promise to continue good Lady
and Governor unto that City, which, by outward declaration, did open
their love to their so loving and noble Prince, in such wise as she
herself wondered thereat.
* * * * *
But because Princes be set in their Seat by GOD's appointment, and
therefore they must first and chiefly render the glory of Him from whom
their glory issueth; it is to be noted in Her Grace, that, forasmuch
as GOD hath so wonderfully placed her in the Seat of Government over
this realm; she in all doings, doth shew herself most mindful of
His goodness and mercy shewed unto her. And amongst all other, two
principal signs thereof were noted in this Passage.
First, in the Tower: where Her Grace, before she entered her chariot,
lifted up her eyes to heaven, and said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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