The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part D.: From Elizabeth to James I.
David Hume · en
sorrow are no more, her enemies envied her that last consolation, and
having secluded her from every joy on earth, had done what in them lay
to debar her from all hopes in her future and eternal existence: that
the exercise of her religion was refused her; the use of those sacred
rites in which she had been educated, the commerce with those holy
ministers, whom Heaven had appointed to receive the acknowledgment of
our transgressions, and to seal our penitence by a solemn readmission
into heavenly favor and forgiveness: that it was in vain to complain of
the rigors of persecution exercised in other kingdoms; when a queen and
an innocent woman was excluded from an indulgence which never yet, in
the most barbarous countries, had been denied to the meanest and most
obnoxious malefactor: that could she ever be induced to descend from
that royal dignity in which Providence had placed her, or depart from
her appeal to Heaven, there was only one other tribunal to which she
would appeal from all her enemies; to the justice and humanity of
Elizabeth’s own breast, and to that lenity which, uninfluenced by
malignant counsel, she would naturally be induced to exercise
towards her: and that she finally entreated her to resume her natural
disposition, and to reflect on the support, as well as comfort, which
she might receive from her son and herself, if, joining the obligations
of gratitude to the ties of blood, she would deign to raise them from
their present melancholy situation, and reinstate them in that liberty
and authority to which they were entitled.[*]
* Camden, p. 489,