274 CONDEMNATION AND DEATH OF MARY.-1587. Fotheringay, she expressed the most violent displeasure at the hasty officiousness of her servants, in hopes, by such an artifice, tc transfer to them the blame of Mary's death. 8. On the 6th of February, 1587, the warrant was brought to Fotheringay by the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, who informed Mary that she must prepare for death the next morning. She received their message with composure, and employed herself during the rest of the day in writing letters, in dividing the few valuables she had among her attendants, and taking leave of them. 9. She retired to rest at her usual time, but arose after a few hours' sleep, and spent the rest of the night in prayer. The following Latin petition was composed by her at this time: O Domine Deus, speravi in te! O care mi Jesu, nunc libera me! In dura catenâ, in misera pœnâ desidero te! 10. Towards morning she attired herself in the only rich dress she had reserved-a black satin gown, trimmed with pearls and jet, over a crimson velvet petticoat. A white lawn veil was thrown over her head; and when she was summoned to the hall where she was to die, she took a crucifix and prayer-book in her hand, and walked with a serene and composed countenance. She was met on the way by her faithful servant, Andrew Melvil, who flung himself on his knees before her, and burst into an agony of grief. 11. Mary endeavored to console him with the utmost firmness; but, on charging him with her last message to her son, she melted into tears. She then entered the hall in which the scaffold had been raised, and saw, with an undismayed countenance, the two executioners standing there, and all the preparations for her death. 12. After some time spent in prayer, she began, with the aid of her women, to unrobe herself; and, seeing them ready to break forth into tears and lamentations, she made to them, by putting her finger to her lips, a sign to forbear. She then gave them her blessing; a handkerchief was bound round her eyes, and without any visible trepidation she laid her head upon the block, and with two strokes it was severed from her body. 13. There was at least one other servant who remained faithful to his mistress; this was her favorite little dog, which had concealed itself among the folds of her dress, and could with difficulty be removed from her body. Thus perished this unfortunate princess, in the forty-fifth year of her age. She had been a queen almost from the hour of her birth. From the age of six to that of nineteen she had been trained to levity and dissipation in the French court. 14. From her nineteenth to her twenty-seventh year she had lived in Scotland, in a succession of follies and sorrows, and in the midst of enemies. The remaining nineteen years of her life she had passed in did she use? 8. How was Mary affected by the arrival of the death-warrant? 10, 11, 12. Relate the particulars of her death. 13. How old was she? How had the different THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA.-158S. 275 a miserable captivity. But time and affliction had neither subdued her spirit, nor wholly destroyed that extraordinary beauty which had first excited the hatred of her more cool and politic rival. 15. When the news of the execution was brought to Elizabeth, she thought it necessary to assume the appearance of excessive grief; she wore mourning, and for some days shut herself up with only her women. The King of Scotland expressed great resentnent at the murder of his mother, and threatened Elizabeth with a var, but she found means to appease the indignation of a sovereign who was not of a very warlike disposition. CHAPTER CL. The Invincible Armada.-Elizabeth displays great Vigor, and her Subjects great Courage and Zeal.-The Spaniards entirely defeated. 1. WE have spent so much time in detailing the painful, yet in teresting, story of Queen Mary, that we must pass rapidly over the rest of Elizabeth's reign. The Invincible Armada makes a considerable figure in history. This was a great fleet and army fitted out by Philip II., of Spain, with which he hoped to overwhelm Great Britain. 2. Elizabeth could muster but a small naval force to withstand this imposing array; but she was undismayed; for she relied with confidence on the superior skill and bravery of her seamen and periods of her life been spent? 15. How did Elizabeth behave after the death of Mary? CL.-1. What was the Invincible Armada? 2. Who were the officers of the English 276 DISPERSION OF THE ARMADA.—1588. officers. Her fleet was commanded by Lord Howard, of Effing. ham. Under him served Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, all of whom were much distinguished as naval commanders. 3. The land forces, which were inferior in number and discipline to those of Philip, were posted wherever it was thought likely the Spaniards would land. The vigor and prudence exhibited by the queen inspired the people with courage. She appeared on horseback at the camp at Tilbury, where Leicester was in command, and riding through the ranks, roused, by an animated speech, the enthusiasm of the soldiers. 4. Amongst other things she said to them, "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too; and think proud scorn that Parma, or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms; to which, rather than any dishonor shall grow by me, I will myself take up arms." 5. The Armada, as it approached Lizard Point, was descried by a Scotch pirate, who was cruising in those seas, and he, hoisting every sail, hastened to give notice of the enemy's approach. The information was well timed, for Effingham had just time to get out of port; if he had been shut up there, his superior naval skill would have been useless, and his fleet would have been destroyed by the superior force of the enemy. 6. He was hardly out before he saw the Invincible Armada coming full sail towards him in the form of a crescent, and stretching over a distance of seven miles. He soon perceived that the Spanish ships were ill built and unmanageable, and his chief fear was, that these huge vessels might run upon, and, by their weight, sink his own. 7. But their great size proved of advantage to him, for whilst the Spanish shot all passed over the heads of his people, his own had a large mark. In the mean time vessels poured forth from every English port, and, joining Effingham, hovered upon the skirts of the enemy, cutting off such ships as were so unlucky as to be separated from the rest. 8. Vessels filled with combustibles were set fire to, and sent into the midst of the Spanish fleet, which dispersed in the utmost alarm. By this warfare the enemy was nearly disabled, while the English had lost only one small vessel; and the Spanish commander determined to return home. 9. The wind being contrary, he was obliged to sail to the north to make the circuit of Scotland; but the English still pursued, and had their ammunition held out, would probably have taken every vessel. As it was, very few escaped, for the tempests lent their aid in the work of destruction. Those Spaniards who lived to return home, gave such accounts of the bravery of the English, and the tremendous dangers of their coasts, as effectually repressed all inclination to attempt another invasion. fleet? 3. What of the queen's conduct? 4. What did she say to the troops? 5. Who gave information of the Spaniards' approach? Why was this information well timed? 6. What was Effingham's fear? 7. Why was the size of the Spanish ships of advantage to the English? 8, 9. What became of the Spanish fleet? SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 277 CHAPTER CLI. Sir Walter Raleigh.- Virginia settled.-About the Earl of Essex 1. AMONGST those who fitted out ships at their own cost to oppose the Armada, was Sir Walter Raleigh, who was born in 1552, and after passing through the University of Oxford with great reputation, volunteered as a soldier to assist the Protestants in France and the Netherlands. 2. Here he made good use of his time in acquiring valuable knowledge, so that upon his return home, in 1578, he was considered as being in all respects one of the most accomplished gentlemen in England. His active mind would not let him be idle, so he engaged heart and hand in an expedition which his half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a distinguished commander, was fitting out to make discoveries in America. 3. The expedition was very unfortunate, but Raleigh gained a knowledge of seamanship which made him afterwards one of the most skilful naval commanders. A man of his great abilities could not fail to gain the favor of the queen, but he recommended himself particularly by a little act of gallantry. 4. As Elizabeth walked abroad one day, attended by some of the CLI.-1, 2. What of Sir Walter Raleigh? In what expedition did he engage with his half-brother? 3. With what result? By what act did he gain the notice of the queen? 278 THE EARL OF ESSEX. courtiers, she chanced to arrive at a very muddy place, which she could not cross without wetting her feet. Raleigh, without hesitation, took from his shoulder a new and very rich cloak, and spread it on the ground; treading gently upon this, the queen passed over clean and dry. 5. This attention fixed Raleigh in her good graces, and a wag remarked that the sacrifice of a cloak obtained for him many a good suit. The great favor which he enjoyed at court enabled him to procure an extensive grant of lands in America, and in 1584 he sent out an expedition to make a settlement there. 6. The first attempt was made on the coast of what is now called North Carolina, in commemoration of which event the capital of that State is now called Raleigh. The ships brought back no gold or silver, which was the chief object of the adventurers, but were so well freighted with other merchandise, as to induce Raleigh to send out a second expedition the next year. A tract of country rather more to the north was taken possession of, and named, in honor of the maiden queen, Virginia. 7. Leicester was alarmed at the progress which Raleigh made in the queen's favor, and brought forward, as a competitor, his own son-in-law, the Earl of Essex. This young nobleman possessed a noble and generous nature, and his lofty and impetuous spirit, which would not stoop to that mean subservience in which all others were held by the queen, quite won her heart. 8. She permitted him to speak to her with more freedom than she would allow to any of her old and faithful servants. On one occasion he became so heated in an argument with her as entirely to forget the rules of good breeding, and turned his back upon her in a contemptuous manner. 9. She took fire at this, and gave him a sound box on his ear, telling him she would not bear his impertinence. Instead of apologizing for his affront, the impatient youth laid his hand on his sword, and, declaring he would not bear such usage, withdrew, from court. 10. His friends endeavored to persuade him that a blow from a woman ought not to be resented; but Essex said that the character of woman was sunk in that of sovereign, and would not make any advances towards reconciliation. But the queen herself was too fond of him to bear his absence patiently; the quarrel seemed to increase her affection, and he was recalled and enjoyed more than his former favor. 5. What grant did he obtain? 6. What colony did he attempt to found? What colony was afterwards established? Whence its name? 7. Who was brought forward as the rival of Raleigh? How did Essex win the queen's favor? 8. How did he treat her? 9, 10. Relate an instance of his impetuosity. |