days (8). Mr. Sidney could not be an indifferent spectator of those splendid and elegant exhibitions with which the royal guest was gratified. He himself contributed to her amusement at another time, when she honoured this his noble relative with her presence at his house in Wanstead in Essex, by composing a masque entitled “The "Lady of May," which was performed before her. In this dramatic composition he hath not forborn to discover his proficiency in the school of courtly adulation, by the frequent allusions he has made to her beauty. It is well known that the poet's song and the orator's eloquence were not unacceptable to her, when they conveyed an encomium upon her personal charms (9) SIR (8) George Gascoigne, a poet who flourished at this time, published a relation of this entertainment of Queen Elizabeth, in a masque written in verse and prose, under the title of "Princely pleasures at Kenelworth Castle." This tract is reprinted in the first volume of "Queen Elizabeth's Progresses, &c." London, 1788. (9) Lady Rich, the sister of Robert Earl of Essex, was not ignorant of this foible of her royal mistress, when, supplicating for her brother's life, she speaks of "her Majesty's beauty-of her brother's service to her beauty;" and remarks that her excellent beauties and perfections should feel more compassion-though she had then passed her grand climacteric. Sidney Papers. SIR HENRY SIDNEY was not one and not one and twenty years old when he was chosen ambassador to King Henry II. of France. His son did not much exceed that age when he was sent abroad in a public capacity. capacity. To an ambitious young man,—and all young men should be under the impulse of virtuous ambition,-no appointment could be more desirable than that of ambassador to the Court of Vienna in 1576, to condole with the Emperor Rodolph, on the demise of his father Maximilian the second (1), whose virtuous (1) He died Oct. 12, 1576. When his physicians apprized him of the near approach of death, he said, "I am perfectly sensible that my hour is come, and I thank God for delivering me from the tortures I have suf"fered." His sister, the Electress of Bavaria, then asked him, "whether "he chose to confess his sins to a Priest, and to receive the sacrament?" He replied, "I have confessed to that Priest who is in heaven, and on your "account I am unwilling to receive the sacrament again :" which was considered by those who were present, as if he was unwilling to receive it in both kinds, lest he should offend his wife and sister-as if he thought it impious to receive it only in one kind, and therefore that it was better to decline it. He afterward took leave of his wife, and said, that death was ungrateful to him for no other reason, than that the education of his children was not finished. A little before his death, his sister told him, that the bishop who constantly preached before him, was at the door: "Was he willing to admit "him?" He replied harshly, that he might be admitted, on condition that he mentioned to him only the merits of Christ. This condition was observed by the bishop, whom when he had heard for some time, reclining on his left side, he quickly expired, as if he had fallen asleep. Epistolarum H. Langueti ad Augustum Saxoniæ ducem, &c. L. 1. p. 241. virtuous character reflected the brightest lustre on the crown which he wore. This young prince was possessed of many valuable qualities in his disposition mild and humane, a lover and patron of arts and sciences, moderate in his principles with respect to religion, though frequently seduced from them by the artifices of bigots and Jesuits (2). The pompous retinue of Mr. Sidney's attendants was suitable to the dignity of his employment, and the honour of his sovereign. He assumed a generous pride, as well from a consciousness of his own merit, as from his noble parentage. A tablet, bearing the arms of his family (3), was fixed on the fronts of the different houses where he incidentally abode in the towns through which he travelled. On this tablet an inscription was engraven, denoting his illustrious descent, and the honourable office which (2) See Birch's Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, Vol. 1. p. 3. (3) Or, a Phaon's head azure. Crest. Or, a wreath, a bear sustaining a ragged staff, argent; his muzzle sable, and his plain collar and chain Or. Sometimes, on a wreath a porcupine azure, his quills, collar, and chain Or.. The bear and ragged staff was the crest of the Dudleys, and was assumed by them as the old cognizance of the house of Warwick. Now by my father's badge, old Nevil's crest, The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, This day I'll wear aloft this burgonet. Shakspeare's P. II. King Henry VI. A, 5, S. 1.. which he then filled (4). The Queen's own penetration and discernment had promoted him to this appointment.It is remarked of this princess, that in the choice of her ambassadors she had a regard not only to the talents and abilities, but even to the figure and person of those to whom she consigned the administration of her affairs abroad. Nor can we blame this trait of her character. "A virtuous mind in a fair body, is indeed a fine picture "in a good light (5)." THE purport of this embassy was not confined to the imperial court; it was not the mere ceremonial act of congratulating the new Emperor. It had a more important and a more laudable object in view: the union of (4) The following inscription was engraven on the tablet. Illustrissimi et generosissimi viri Philippi Sidnæi Angli Pro-regis Hiberniæ filii, comitum Warwici Et Leicestriæ nepotis, serenissimæ all (5) This predilection of the Queen in favour of exterior accomplishments, was observable in her appointment of Sir Christopher Hatton to the office of Lord Chancellor, on account of his graceful person and fine dancing. Yet his intellectual accomplishments were by no means superficial. He discharged his high office with applause; yet, distrusting his own legal abilities, he was always assisted by two lawyers. 7 all the Protestant states in the defence of their common religion against the ruin that menaced them from the Popish powers, from the superstition of Rome, and the tyranny of Spain (6). He succeded in this attempt: he awakened their fears, convinced their judgment, and impressed upon their minds a due sense of the necessity of exerting the most vigorous efforts, by entering into an association which originated from the best and purest motives. Hence they were induced to conclude a religious league with England, with that country which was then justly acknowledged to be the firm support, the invincible bulwark, of the reformation. He was directed at the same time to visit the court of John Casimir, Count Palatine of the Rhine. On this occasion Lord Leicester, in an elegant Latin epistle to that prince, recommended his nephew, as desirous of being received into a more intimate friendship with his highness, for (6) The cruelties of the Spaniards in the Low Countries drew upon them the most dreadful enemies in 1574, and particularly the seamen of Zealand. The latter undertook to relieve Leyden when it was besieged. They wore a crescent upon their hats, with this inscription: "Rather Turks than Papists:" thus intimating, that the Turks had more humanity than the Catholics. Brandt's abridged History, &c. p. 164. M |