Where He that sits on the supernal throne, In majesty most glorious to behold, And holds the sceptre of the world alone, Hath not his garments of imbroidered gold, But he is clothed with truth and righteousness; Where angels all do sing with joyfulness. Where heavenly love is cause of holy life, And holy life increaseth heavenly love; Where peace established without fear or strife, Doth prove the blessing of the soul's behove; Where thirst nor hunger, grief nor sorrow dwelleth Put peace in joy, and joy in peace excelleth. The Countess of Pembroke was, throughout her life, an unselfish and generous patron of letters. The noble old library at famous Wilton was collected chiefly during her residence there. The poets of the time seem to have vied with each other in speaking her praise, and in bearing testimony to her learning and rare excellence of character. Although it may be said that to some extent the many warm eulogies passed upon her came from interested sources, and are of too flattering a character to be invariably sincere, the lady whose virtues and worth were so warmly and universally sung must have been of nobly-souled and exalted nature. Churchyard, Daniel, Smart, and others of the period, are not alone in their plaudits. None was more enthusiastic than Spenser himself. His references to her are not solitary. The following in "Colin Clout's come home again" may be mentioned:-- They all [quoth he] me gracèd goodly well, That all I praise: but in the highest place, Urania, sister unto Astrophell, In whose brave mind, as in a golden coffer, All heavenly gifts and riches lockèd are; More rich than pearls of Ind, or gold of Ophir, And in her sex more wonderful and rare. Her age was no less honoured than her youth. It has been said of her that "when an old woman she could entrance the world by her sweet beauty of her face, the gentleness of her womanly heart, the strength and keenness of her wit, and the depth and breadth of her learning." Her husband died in the month of January, 1602. She survived him twenty years. By the marriage there were three children--William, Philip, and a daughter named Anne, who died young. William, who on the death of his father became Earl of Pembroke, was, according to Clarendon, the most universally beloved and esteemed of any man of that age. He is believed by some to have been the "W. H." of Shakespeare's Sonnets, of whom that poet says:-- Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee Calls back the lovely April of her prime. From the second son, Philip, who succeeded his elder brother to the title, the present Earl of Pembroke is descended. After having most truly lived her long life--a life faithful, devoted, and true--the Countess of Pembroke died at her town house in Aldersgate Street, on the 25th September, 1621. She was interred in the vault of her husband's family in Salisbury Cathedral.