_Carassus_ hauing thus finished his tragicall history, _Inquisition_ presented vnto _Memory_ the lady _Hellina_; but _Memorye_ hauing her at the fyrst sight in great admiration, sayde as followeth: “Why haue you brought before vs the goddesse of _Diana_? Our intent is to heare the complayntes of them who are smothered with _Forgetfulnesse_: as for this goddesse she is renowmed more then sufficient.” “O _Memory_,” quoth _Inquisition_, “this is not _Diana_: no, _Diana_, no _Gouzaga_, no _Emila_, no _Cariclia_, no _Pallas_, no _Iuno_, no not knowing _Minerua_, may compare with her for the flourishing features of her incomprehensible complexion for the comly composition of her ladilike limmes, being the perfectest peece of woorke that euer nature created, that euer earth nouryshed, or that euer death destroyed, for the passing great dexteritie of her ingenious capacitie, the very _Phœnix_ of women, and the chiefest amongst men that euer thou _Memory_ didst celebrate for learning, for knowledge of tongs, and for the diuers gifts of the mind, shee only dyd inhabite betwixt the wings of flilling fame, for a happye, long, quiet lyfe in this worlde, she onely was fauoured by fortune, or rather singularly preserued by her maker. For that shee neuer tasted in all her raigne any aduersytie, shee is to bee esteemed immortall: for that in all her actions shee had her harte’s desyre, shee may iustly bee esteemed a goddesse (or rather the very beloued of God.) Now I report me vnto you is there any goddesse or nimph inhabiting the mount _Helicon_, which maye compare with queene _Hellina_, not shee of _Greece_ which brought finall destruction vnto the flourishing _Troy_, but shee of _Brittayne_, who redeemed her decaying country from forraine tyrannye, which made not onely a menes for the bodyes of her subiects to liue in quiet peace, but she also prescribed vnto them an order how they might saue their soules. She planted religion amongst her subiects which were at that time sauage, neither knowing God, nor esteeming godlynesse, she was daughter vnto king _Coell_: shee was queene of _Bryttayne_, empress of the worlde, wyfe vnto _Constantius_, mother of _Constantine_ the great. Yet the descriptions of time, I meane the chronicles, haue lefte so litle reporte of her that I founde her standyng betwixte _Forgetfulnesse_ and _Memory_, almost smothered with _Obliuion_.”[1178] “If shee bee so renowmed, as you haue spoken of,” sayde _Memory_, “we shoulde doo her great wrong to deny her a place in this pageant. Speake therefore, good madame _Hellina_, with good leaue, your minde, and as other by their falles doo set downe examples very necessary for the auoyding of vice, so let your history bee a meanes to incourage all men to imbrace vertue.” Then the good queene, although somewhat abashed, yet glad to repeat her lyfe forerunne, sayde as followeth.] THE LYFE OF QUEENE HELLINA.