princes; I will not compare with any of them in wisdom, fortitude, or any other virtues; but saving the duty of a child, that is not to compare with his father in love, care, sincerity, and justice, I will compare with any prince that ever you had, or shall have.

It may be thought simplicity in me, that, all this time of my reign, I have not sought to advance my territories, and enlarge my dominions; for opportunity hath served me to do it. I acknowledge my womanhood and weakness in that respect; but though it hath not been hard to obtain, yet I doubted how to keep the things so obtained; and I must say, my mind was never to invade my neighbours, or to usurp over any; I am contented to reign over my own, and to rule as a just princess.

Yet the king of Spain doth challenge me to be the quarreller, and the beginner of all these wars; in which he doth me the greatest wrong that can be, for my conscience doth not accuse my thoughts, wherein I have done him the least injury; but I am persuaded in my conscience, if he knew what I know, he himself would be sorry for the wrong, that he hath done me.

I fear not all his threatenings; his great preparations and mighty forces do not stir me; for though he come against me with a greater power than ever was his invincible navy, I doubt not (God assisting me, upon whom I always trust) but that I shall be able to defeat and overthrow him. I have great advantage against him, for my cause is just.

I heard say, when he attempted his last invasion, some upon the sea-coast forsook their towns, and flew up higher into the country, and left all naked and exposed to his entrance: but, I swear unto you, if I knew those persons, or any that should do so hereafter, I will make them know and feel what it is to be so fearful in so urgent a cause.

The subsidies you give me, I accept thankfully, if you give me your good wills with them; but if the necessity of the time, and your preservations, did not require it, I would refuse them; but let me tell you that the sum is not so much, but that it is needful for a princess to have so much always lying in her coffers for your defence in time of need, and not to be driven to get it, when we should use it.

You that be lieutenants and gentlemen of command in your countries, I require you to take care that the people be well armed, and in readiness upon all occasions. You that be judges and justices of the peace, I command and straightly

charge you, that you see the laws to be duly executed, and that you make them living laws, when we have put life into them.

(Somers' Collection of Historical Tracts, ed. cit., I, 463.)

142. Execution of Margaret Clitherow

John Mush

John Mush, who gives the following account, was an English secular priest, who was ordained in Rome and then came to the English mission. He was several times imprisoned, and once sentenced to death, for his fearless defence of his faith, yet he finally died peacefully at an extreme old age. Margaret Clitherow was executed on the charge of treason in concealing attainted priests, although in the account of her death it is strongly intimated that she was martyred because she would not recant her faith.

The martyr coming to the place, kneeled her down, and prayed to herself. The tormentors bade her pray with them, and they would pray with her. The martyr denied, and said, "I will not pray with you, and you shall not pray with me; neither will I say Amen to your prayers, nor shall you to mine." Then they willed her to pray for the Queen's majesty. The martyr began in this order. First, in the hearing of them all, she prayed for the Catholic Church, then for the Pope's Holiness, Cardinals, and other Fathers which have charge of souls, and then for all Christian princes. At which words the tormentors interrupted her, and willed her not to put her majesty among that company, yet the martyr proceeded in this order, "and especially for Elizabeth, Queen of England, that God turn her to the Catholic faith, and that after this mortal life she may receive the blessed joys of heaven. For I wish as much good," quoth she, "to her majesty's soul as to mine own." Sheriff Gibson, abhorring the cruel fact, stood weeping at the door. Then said Fawcet, "Mrs. Clitherow, you must remember and confess that you die for treason." The martyr answered, "No, no, Mr. Sheriff, I die for the love of my Lord Jesu"; which last words she spake with a loud voice...

The women took off her clothes, and put upon her the long habit of linen. Then very quietly she laid her down upon the ground, her face covered with a handkerchief, the linen habit being placed over her as far as it would reach, all the rest of her body being naked. The door was laid upon her, her hands she joined towards her face. Then the sheriff said, "Nay, you must have your hands bound." The

martyr put forth her hands over the door still joined. Then two sergeants parted them, and with the inkle strings, which she had prepared for that purpose bound them to two posts, so that her body and her arms made a perfect cross. They willed her again to ask the Queen's Majesty's forgiveness, and to pray for her. The martyr said she had prayed for her. They also willed her to asked her husband's forgiveThe martyr said, "If ever I have offended him, but for my conscience, I ask him forgiveness."

ness.

After this they laid weight upon her, which when she first felt, she said, "Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! have mercy upon me!" which were the last words she was heard to speak.

She was in dying one quarter of an hour. A sharp stone, as much as a man's fist, put under her back; upon her was laid to the quantity of seven or eight hundred-weight at the least, which, breaking her ribs, caused them to burst forth of the skin.

Thus most victoriously this gracious martyr overcame all her enemies, passing [from] this mortal life with marvellous triumph into the peaceable city of God, there to receive a worthy crown of endless immortality and joy.

This was at nine of the clock, and she continued in the press until three at afternoon. Her hat before she died she sent to her husband, in sign of her loving duty to him as to her head. Her hose and shoes to her eldest daughter, Anne, about twelve years old, signifying that she should serve God and follow her steps of virtue.

(The Troubles of Our Catholic Forefathers Related by Themselves, p. 430 et seq. Mr. John Mush's Life of Margaret Clitherow, London, 1877.)

143. Death of Elizabeth

Somers' Tracts

The death of Queen Elizabeth closed the Tudor dynasty, the most brilliant completed period of English history. The account given is of especial interest for the portion concerning the act of the dying sovereign in relation to the succession to the throne. Other contemporary writers deny the intention of Elizabeth to appoint James of Scotland as her successor; and even if the account selected is true, the claim that James was absolutely named by Elizabeth as her heir was evidently largely founded on imagination and desire.

THE DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, WITH HER DECLARATION OF HER SUCCESSOR. MSS.

About the Friday sevenight after Christmas last, being about the 14th of January, 1602, in the 45th year of her reign, the late queen about two days before sickened of a colde, (being ever forewarned by Doctor Dee, to beware of White-hall,) and the said 14th day removed to Richmond; but a little before her going, even the same morning, the Earle of Nottingham, high admiral of England, coming to her, partly to speak with her as concerning her removall, and partly touching other matters, wherein her pleasure and direction was to be knowne, they fell into some speech of the succession; and then she told him that her seate had been ever the throne of kings, and none but her next heir of blood and descent should succeed her. After falling into other matters, they left that speech, and she departed to Richmond; where she was well amended of the cold. But on Monday the 20th of February, she begann to sicken againe, and so continued till Monday the 7th of March, at which time notice was given to the lords of the councell, that she was sick of a cold, and so she continued sick till Tuesday the 15th of March following; after which day she began somewhat to amend. But the 18th of March following being Friday, she began to be very ill, whereupon the lords of the councell were sent for to Richmond, and there continued till Wednesday the 24th of March, about three of the clock in the morning (being our Lady even) at which time she died; but on Tuesday before her death, being the 23d of March, the lord admirall being on the right side of the bed, the lord keeper at the left, and Mr. Secretary Cecill (after Earle of Salisbury) at the beds feete; all standing.

The lord admirall put her in mind of her speech, concerning the succession, had at White-hall; and that they, in the name of all the rest of her councell, came unto her to knowe her pleasure who should succeede. Whereunto she thus replyed: "I told you my seat had been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascall to succeed me, and who should succeed me, but a king?"

The lords not understanding this darke speech, and looking the one on the other, at length Mr. Secretary boldly asked her, what she meant by these words, "That no rascall should succeed her?" whereunto she replyed, "That her mean

ing was, that a king should succeed her, and who," quoth she, "should that be, but our cozen of Scotland.”

They asked her whether that were her absolute resolution? whereunto she answered, "I pray you trouble me no more, I'll have none but him"; with which answer they departed. Notwithstanding, after again, about four a clock in the afternoon, the next day, being Wednesday, (after the archbishopp of Canterbury and other divines had been with her, and left her in a manner speechlesse), the three lords aforesaid repaired unto her againe, asking her if she remained in her former resolution, and who should succeed her; but she not being able to speak, was asked by Mr. Secretary in this sort, wee beseech your majesty if you remain in your former resolution, and that you would have the King of Scots to succeed you in your kingdom, shewe some sign unto us; whereat suddenly heaveing herself upwards in the bed, and putting her arms out of bed, she held both her hands jointly together over her head in manner of a crown, whereby as they guessed she signified, that she did not only wish him the kingdome, but desired the continuance of his estate, after which they departed.

And the next morning (as is aforesaid) she dyed. Immediately after her death, all the lords, as well of the councell as other noblemen that were at the courte, came from Richmond to White-hall by six o'clock in the morning, where other noblemen that were at London met them; but as they began to sitt in councell in the privy chamber at White-hall, the lord keeper, (Sir Thomas Egerton,) and the rest of the councell that were no barons, offered to sitt at the lower end of the councell table, and not above any of the meanest nobility: but the noblemen, in respect of their former authority, called them to the higher end of the table, and wished them to keepe their places; whereunto the lord keeper answered, viz. If it be your lordshipps pleasure, wee will do so, but that is more of your courtesies then we can demand of duty; and so they sat downe, every man according to his degree in councell; touching the succession, where after some speech had of divers competitors and matters of state, at length the lord admirall rehearsed all the aforesaid premises, which the late queen had spoken to him, and to the lord keeper, and Mr. Secretary, with the manner thereof; which they being asked, did affirme to be true upon their honours.

(Somers' Collection of Historical Tracts, ed. cit., I, 246.)