For this signal Deliverance, the Thanks of all true Lovers of their Country, and of the Protestant Religion, are due to that Almighty Being, by whose Assistance their Ancestors obtained the Victory; and it ought at the same time, to make them love and reverence the Memory of that wise and excellent Queen, by whose Prudence and good Management they were enabled to conquer. [140]Upon the first News of this wonderful Deliverance and Victory, the Kingdom was filled with Joy, and a Sense of Gratitude to GOD. The first Notice given of it in publick, was on the 20th of _August_, when _Nowel_ Dean of St. _Paul_’s preached at the Cross a Thanksgiving Sermon before the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and the Companies in their best Liveries. Again _September_ the 8th being another and chief Thanksgiving Day, the Preacher at St. _Paul_’s Cross moved the People to give Thanks for their Enemies Overthrow; and at the same time were set upon the lower Battlements of the Church, eleven Ensigns or Banners taken from the _Spanish_ Fleet; one Streamer in particular, on which was represented the Virgin _Mary_ with her Son in her Arms, was held in a Man’s Hand over the Pulpit: These Banners were afterwards carried to the Cross in _Cheapside_[141]; and the next Day, _September 9_, were hanged on _London-Bridge_ towards _Southwark_, where the Fair was kept. The 17th of _November_, being _Sunday_, was another Rejoicing-Day, as well upon account of the Queen’s Accession to the Throne, as for this Victory. Her Majesty intended to have been at _Paul_’s Cross, to hear a Sermon preach’d by Dr. _Cooper_ Bishop of _Winchester_, and Provision had accordingly been made for her Reception; but upon some Occasion or other, her coming was put off ’till the _Sunday_ following: The 19th being _Tuesday_ was a general Thanksgiving-Day throughout the whole Kingdom. The next _Sunday, November 24_, the Queen, attended by her Privy Council, by the Nobility, and other honourable Persons, as well Spiritual as Temporal, in great number, the _French_ Ambassador, the Judges, the Heralds, and Trumpeters all on Horseback, came in a Chariot supported by four Pillars, and drawn by two white Horses, to St. _Paul_’s Church; where alighting at the West Door, she fell on her Knees, and audibly praised GOD for her own and the Nation’s signal Deliverance; and, after a Sermon suitable to the Occasion, preached by Dr. _Pierce_, Bishop of _Sarum_, she exhorted the People in a most Royal and Christian manner, to a due Performance of the religious Duty of Thanksgiving; then going to the Bishop of _London_’s Palace, where she dined, she returned in the same Order as before, by Torch-light, to _Somerset-House_.