A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 16 · Part 5 – Part 7
CASUALTIES in her time.
IN the first yeer of her Raign, died Sir Thomas Cheyney, Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports, of whom it is reported for certain, That his Pulse did beat more then three quarters of an hour after he was dead, as strongly as if he had been still alive. In her third yeer, there was found neer Keswrick in Cumberland, a most rich Veyn of pure and native Brasse, which had lain neglected a long time: Also the Stone called Lapis Calaminaris, which is of great use in Brasse Works, was first brought into England at this time, and that in most plentifull manner. Likewise this Queen was the first that caused Gun-Powder to be made in England, which before was had from forraign parts, and at dear rates. In her third yeer, the Spi…e of the Cathedrall Church of Pauls, being five hundred and twenty foot from the ground, and two hundred and sixty from the square Steeple where it was placed, and was made of wooden materialls, but covered with Lead, was with lightning burnt down, together with the Roofs of that large Church, and that within the space of five hours; the Roofs were after re-edified, but the Spire is yet wanting. The Queen gave towards it a thousand Marks in money, and a thousand load of Timber; and the City granted a Benevo…ce, and three Fifteens; and the Clergy also contributed towards it. Also this yeer there were many monstrous Births: A Mare brought forth a Foal with two heads, and a long tayl growing out between the two Heads. A Sow farrowed a Pig with two Bodies, eight Feet, and but one Head. A man-childe was born at Chichester in Sussex, having arms and legs like to an Anatomy, the Brest and Belly monstrous big, about the neck a great coller of flesh and skin, growing like the ruff of a Shir…. In her sixth yeer… upon the returning of the Army from Newhaven, the Pesti…ence war brought into England, but especially into London; where in o…e yeer there died one and twenty thousand and five hundred. This yeer also, in the Month of December, was driven on the shore at Grimseby in Lincoln-shire a monstrous Fish, in length nineteen yards, his tayl fifteen foot broad, and six yards between the eyes. Twelve men stood upright in his mouth to get the Oyl. In her seventh yeer; on the one and twentieth of De…ember began a Frost, so extreme, that on New-yeers Even people passed over the Thames on foot; some played at Foot-ball, some shot at pricks, as if it had been firm ground. Yet this great Frost, the third of Ianuary at night began to thaw, and by the fifth day, there was no Ice at all to be seen; which sudden thaw caused great Inundations. In her eighth yeer, within the space of ten Months, there died in London seven Aldermen, namely, Edward Banks, Richard Chamberlain, Sir Martin Bowes, Sir Richard Mallory, Sir William H…wet, Sir Thomas White, and Richard Lambert, one of the Sheriffs for that yeer. The same yeer also, in the Town of Ossestry in Wales, two hundred houses, in the space of two hours, were consumed with fire. In her tenth yeer, were taken in Suffolk, at Downham Bridge neer to Ipswich, seventeen monstrous Fishes; some of them being seven and twenty foot in length: And in the same yeer, many Dutch flying into England, to avoid the persecution of the Duke D'Alva, were the first that brought into England the Art of making Bayes, Sayes, Serges, and such woven stuffs, both Woollen and Linnen. In her time a rich Veyn of Copper was found in the Earl of Nor…humberlands Grounds, which she by her Prerogative seized upon. In her thirteenth yeer, a prodigious Earthquake happened in the East parts of Hereford-shire, at a little Town called Kinnaston. On the seventeenth of February, at six of the clock in the evening, the earth began to open, and a hill with a Rock under it (making at first a great bellowing noyse, which was heard a great way off) lifted it self up a great heighth, and began to travell, bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it, the Sheep-folds, and Flocks of Sheep abiding there at the same time. In the place from whence it was first moved, it left a gaping distance forty foot broad, and fourscore Ells long; the whole Field was about twenty Acres. Passing along, it overthrew a Chappell standing in the way, removed an Ewe-Tree planted in the Church-yard, from the West into the East: with the like force it thrust before it Highwayes, Sheep-folds, Hedges and Trees, made tilled ground Pasture, and again turned Pasture into Tillage. Having walked in this sort from Saturday in the evening, till Munday noon, it then stood still. In her fifteenth yeer, in the Month of November, a new Star, or rather a Meteor (but that it was found to be above the Moon) was seen in Cathedra Cassiopeae, exceeding Iupiter in brightnesse, and in that place was carryed with the Diurnall motion of the Heavens sixteen Months together, though after eight Months it was perceived to grow lesse and lesse. In her sixteenth yeer, was a great Dearth, so as Wheat was sold at five and six shillings the Bushell, and other things in proportion. In her seventeenth yeer, a vast mighty Whale was cast upon the Isle of Thanet in Kent, twenty Ells long, and thirteen foot broad from the belly to the back bone, and eleven …oot between the eyes. One of his eyes being taken out of his head, was more then a Cart with …ix horses could draw; the Oyl being boyled out of the head, was Parmasittee. This yeer also, the River Thames ebbed and flowed twice within an hour: and in the Month of November, the Heaven seemed to be all on fire. Also on the four and twentieth of February, being a great Frost, after a Flood which was not great, there came down the River of Severn such a swarm of Flyes and Beetles, that they were judged to be above a hundred Quarters; the Mills thereabout were dammed up with them for the space of four dayes, and then were cleansed by digging them out with Shovells. In her thre… and twentieth yeer, in the beginning of April, about six a clock after noon, happened an Earthquake not far from York, which in some places, strook the very stones out of Buildings, and made the Bells in Churches to jangle. The night following, the earth trembled once or twice in K…nt, and again the first day of May. In her six and twentieth yeer, being the yeer 1583, the like Prodigie happened in Dorset-shire, as in the yeer 1571 had happened in Hereford-shire; A field of three Acrees in Blackmore, with the Trees and Fences, moved from its place, and passed over ano…her Field, travelling in the High-way that goeth to Herne, and there stayed. In her eight and twentieth yeer, Tobacco was first brought out of the West Indies into England, by Ralph Lane. In her five and thirtieth yeer, there was so great a Drouth, that not onelyonly the Fields, but the Springs themselves were dried up, and many Cattell every where died for want of water. The River of Thames likewise did so fail, that a horse-man might ride over at London Bridge. In her six and thirtieth yeer, was a great Plague in London, so as there died this yeer, in London and the Suburbs, seventeen thousand eight hundred and ninety, besides the Lord Maior, and three Aldermen; and Michaelmas Term was holden at S. Albons.
Of her PERSONA…E and CONDITONS.
SHe was of stature indifferent tall, slender and straight, fair of Complexion, her hair inclining to pale yellow, her fore-head large and fair, her eyes lively and sweet, but short sighted; her nose somewhat rising in the midst; the whole compasse of her countenance somewhat long, yet of admirable beauty, but the beauty of her minde was far more admirable: She had been a subject, which taught her to rule; she had been in misery, which taught her to be mercifull; and indeed, never Prince ruled with more Justice, and with her Justice mingled more mercy. She had more Valour in her then was fit for a woman, but that she was a Ruler over men; and more Humility in her then was fit for a Prince, but that she meant to be a President to women. She delighted in nothing so much, as in the love of her Peopl…, which she procured by ordaining good Magistrates, and forbearing Impositions. Her way not to need them, was frugality; and her way to have them when she needed them, was liberality. She made Honour in her time the more honourable, by not making it common; and indeed, knowing it to be an influence from her self, she kept it, as her self, a Virgin, and would not prostitute it to unworthy persons. She declined being a mother of children, to the end she might be a mother of her Countrey; and indeed, no mother ever loved her children more, then she did her people; and therefore never children loved a mother more, then her people did her. She cove…ed not so much to be an owner of riches, as of rich Subjects; for she thought money did as well in their Coffers, as in her own: and indeed, …he never wanted it, when they had it; and they alwayes had it, when she …eded it. Never Prince had a wiser Coun…ell then she, yet never Prince …eeded it lesse; for she was her self a Counsellor to her Counsell. In sum, whatsoever may in flattery be said of a wise, just, mercifull, religious, and learned Prince, may truely be said of her; in all which, if ever she had an …uall, yet she never certainly had a superiour. In playing her game of …ortune, she loved not an after-game; for she liked Preventions, better then Remedies. She was admirable in expressing her minde, both by speech and writing: and if collection could be made of her Apophthegms, and extemporall Orations, it would certainly excell any thing extant in that kinde: And for her writing, Sir Henry Savile affirms, That he had seen some Translations of hers, which far exceeded the Originalls. Never Prince kept greater State with lesse statelinesse: Her Pensioners and Guard were alwayes the tallest and goodliest Gentlemen and Yeomen of the Kingdom: her maids of Honour, and other women about her, the fairest and most beautifull Ladies of the Realm; and yet her self a Diana amongst her Nymphes; insomuch that a great Lord of France being entertained at Court, and the Queen asking him how he liked her Ladies, made answer, It was hard to judge of Stars, in presence of the Sun.
Of her DEATH and BURYALL.
IT was now the yeer 1602, when she feeling some Infirmities of Old-age and Sicknesse, retired her self at the end of Ianuary, to Ri…hmond; at which time, in a sad Omen, she commanded the Ring to be filed off her finger, wherewith she was solemnly at the first inaugurated into the Kingdom, and since that time had never taken it off, it being grown into the flesh in such manner, that it could not be drawn off without filing. At the beginning of her sicknesse, the Almonds of her Jaws began to swell, and her appetite by little and little failed her; withall she gave her self wholly to sadnesse and heavinesse, which some imputed to her care for the losse of the Earl of Essex; others, because she heard, That divers of the Nobility sought the favour of the King of Scots, adoring him as the Sun rising, and neglecting her: but howsoever, in March a kinde of benummednesse seized upon her, with a deep melancholly, so as she would sit silently, refrain her meat, and not admit of any conference, but with the Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom she prayed …ervently, till such time as her speech failed her, which failed her a day before she died. She being in this case, it was thought fit the Admirall and Secretary should go to her, to know her minde concerning a Successor; to whom she gave this answer; My Throne hath been the Throne of Kings, I would not a mean person should succeed me. The Secretary requesting her to speak more plainly, I will (said she) have a King succeed me; and what King, but the King of Scots, my neerest Kinsman? After this, the Arch-bishop exhorting her to think of God, That do I (said she) nor do my thoughts ever wander from him. And when her tongue no longer served her, it was evident by the lifting up of her hands and eyes, that her thoughts were fixed upon him. And so on the four and twentieth day of March, being the last day of the yeer 160…, she yeelded up her soul to God, when she had lived threescore and nine yeers, six months, and seventeen dayes; Raigned four and forty yeers, four months, and seven dayes. Her Body was embalmed, wrapped in Lead, and brought to White-hall, from whence on the eight and twentieth of April following, in great solemnity, it was carried into the Collegiate Church of S. Peters at Westminster, and there interred in the Vault of her Grand-father, K. Henry the seventh, in his magnificent Chappell, where our renowned Soveraign K. Iames hath built her a Princely Monument, inscribed with Epitaphs to her eternall glory. At her Funerall were said to be Mourners in black, to the number of on… thousand and six hundred persons.