Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/77

 1563.] THE ENGLISH AT HA VRE. 5 7 you had needed this desire, if I had seen a time so fit, and it so ripe to be denounced. The greatness of the cause therefore and need of your returns doth make me say that which I think the wise may easily guess that as a short time for so long a continuance ought not to pass by rote, as many telleth tales, even so as cause by conference with the learned shall show me matter worthy utterance for your behoof, so shall I more gladly pursue your good after my days, than with my prayers be a means to linger my living thread. ' And this much more will I add for your comfort. I have good record in this place that other means 1 have- been thought of than you mentioned, perchance for your good as much, and for my surety no less, which if pre- sently could have been executed had not been deferred. But I hope I shall die in quiet with Nunc Dimittis, which cannot be without I see some glimpses of your following after my graved bones. And by the way, if any doubt that I am as it were by vow or determina- tion bent never to trade that life (of marriage), put out 1 hut, heresy ; your belief is awry for as I think it best for a private woman, so do I strive with myself to think it not most meet for a prince and if I can bend my will to your need, I will not resist such a mind/ 2 1 i.e. The Lord Robert mar- riage as the condition of the recog- nition. 2 A manuscript version of this speech, at Hatfield, leaves little doubt that the text as given by D'Ewes is substantially correct. The few varieties of reading do not ufi'ect the more complicated passages, and we are obliged to conclude that Elizabeth really spoke with these intricate and strange involutions. A date upon the MS., April 10, 1563, fixes the occasion on which the speech was delivered.