Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/229

 The Catholic Reformation 191 the which great hazard may grow to our country ; for this is the greatest and strongest combination, to my under- standing, that ever was gathered in Christendom ; there- fore I wish it, of all hands, to be mightily and diligently looked into and cared for. . . . And so, praying to God for a happy deliverance from the malicious and dangerous practice of our enemies, I humbly take my leave. From the sea, aboard the Victory, the last of July, 1588. The Spaniards take their course for Scotland ; my lord doth follow them. I doubt not, with God's favor, but we shall impeach their landing. There must be order for victual and money, powder and shot, to be sent after us. Your lordship's humbly to command, John Hawkyns. In a letter written shortly after Elizabeth's death by one well acquainted with her court, we have a good description of her chief traits and tastes. I will proceed with the description of the queen's dispo- sition and natural gifts of mind and body, wherein she either matched or exceeded all the princes of her time, as being of a great spirit yet tempered with moderation, in adversity never dejected, in prosperity rather joyful than proud ; affable to her subjects, but always with due regard to the greatness of her estate, by reason whereof she was both loved and feared. In her later time, when she showed herself in public, she was always magnificent in apparel; supposing haply thereby that the eyes of her people (being dazzled by the glittering aspect of those her outward ornaments) would not so easily discern the marks of age and decay of natural beauty ; and she came abroad the more seldom, to make her presence the more grateful and applauded by the multitude, to whom things rarely seen are in manner as new. She suffered not, at any time, any suitor to depart dis- contented from her, and though ofttimes he obtained not 291. Eliza- beth's character and tastes. (From an unknown contem- porary.)