Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/52

 32 REIGX OF EL IZAJiE 7 77. |c H. 4 1 . ' We now assembled, as diligent in. our calling, have thought good to move your Majesty to build a fort for the surety of the realm, to the repulsing of your enemies abroad : which must be set upon firm ground and stead- fast, having two gates one commonly open, the other as a postern, with two watchmen at either of them one governor, one lieutenant, and no good thing there want- ing ; the same to be named th.e Fear of God, the governor thereof to be God, your Majesty the lieuten- ant, the stones the hearts of your faithful people, the two watchmen at the open gate to be called Knowledge and Virtue, the two at the postern gate to be called Mercy and Truth. ' This fort is invincible if every man will fear God ; for all governors reign and govern by the two watch- men Knowledge and Virtue ; and if you, being the lieutenant, see Justice and Prudence, her sisters, exe- cuted, then shall you rightly use your office ; and for such as depart out of this fort let them be let out at the postern by the two watchmen Mercy and Truth, and then shall you be well at home and abroad.' 1 All that was most excellent in English heart and feeling the spirit which carried England safe at last through its trials spoke in these words. Those in whom that spirit lived were few in number : there was never an ago in this world's history when they were other than few ; but few or many they arc at all times the world's true sovereign leaders ; and Elizabeth, 1 Speech of Sir Thomas Williams : DEWES' Journals, pp. 64, 65