The preceding essay has adverted to the origin and progress of what was denominated puritanism. Though widely different opinions have been, and still are, entertained of this numerous sect and their distinguishing tenets, one fact has been fully established by their history, namely, that no acts of uniformity no penal statutes-no courts of "High Commission," or "Star Chamber"-can fetter conscience or produce conviction. If moral suasion and an appeal to the standard of divine revelation fail of success, no other means can possibly accomplish the desired end, by producing unity of faith and discipline. But how cheering is the hope the anticipation how truly delightful, of the arrival of a period, when, as in the primitive age, the "multitude of those who believe shall be of one heart and one mind;" when the whole christian church, instead of being split into numerous parties, and rent asunder by strifes and divisions, shall compose 66 fold under one shepherd!"

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ESSAY X.

The Reign of ELIZABETH concluded.

A. D. 1587-1603.

THOUGH nothing had been more earnestly desired by Elizabeth than the death of a rival whom she both feared and hated, yet when that event actually took place, she was seriously apprehensive of the consequences to which it might lead, and employed her utmost art to avert them. Never did the deep dissimulation, which marked her political character, more conspicuously appear than on that occasion. Soon as the bloody tragedy was performed at Fotheringay castle, she despatched an ambassador to Scotland, bearing a letter written by herself to "her beloved brother James," in which she "appealed to the Supreme Judge for her innocence, and solemnly protested

that the lamentable accident,' which her feelings would not allow her to express, had taken place without her knowledge or concurrence." To render the farce more complete, she gave herself up for a short time to a paroxysm of grief-upbraided with severity her counsellors for having exceeded their instructions-and even caused Davison, her private secretary, to be tried in the Star Chamber on a charge of disobedience to the queen's orders, and subjected to a fine of ten thousand pounds, which reduced him to beggary; yet that much-injured servant of Elizabeth affirmed, in a private letter to the secretary of state, that he had acted throughout according to the queen's instructions, who, having signed and sealed the warrant for Mary's execution, delivered it to him without any condition or reserve.

Elizabeth must have formed the lowest opinion of the king of Scotland's understanding, if she flattered herself that he would be duped by these protestations of innocence and expressions of regret. It was in reality, but adding insult to the deepest injuries. That sovereign and his high-spirited nobles, in the first impulse of their passion, refused an audience to the English ambassador, and breathed nothing but war and vengeance. After having allowed time for their resentment to cool, Elizabeth commanded Walsingham to draw up an elaborate defence of her conduct, which was forwarded to king James, together with a letter from the queen, in which she endeavoured to convince him, that nothing could be more destructive to his hopes of succeeding to the crown of England, than the war which he meditated with that country. The Scottish king who was neither remarkable for filial affection or martial prowess, yielded at length to these prudential considerations, and not only abandoned all thoughts of war, but even concluded an offensive and defensive league with the murderer of his royal parent. To the remonstrances of the court of France on the subject of Mary's death, Elizabeth replied in a haughtier tone. She boldly justified the measure, as an act of political justice and necessity, while she sat at defiance all their threatened purposes of revenge.

The following year, (A. D. 1588,) is rendered me

morable by one of the most splendid naval triumphs recorded in the annals of our country. Philip of Spain, who, from having been a professed admirer, had long since become the inveterate enemy of Elizabeth, had been for some time employed in making secret preparations for war, nor was it difficult to conjecture against whom the armament he was preparing was to be directed. Vessels of war, of larger dimension than any which had been equipped before, were constructing in the principal ports of Naples, Sicily, Spain, and Portugal. Naval stores were already collected to a prodigious amount, and deposited in a multitude of transports that filled the harbours of Cadiz and Lisbon. The conduct of this formidable expedition, which, when completed, was to contain upwards of one hundred and fifty ships of war, was intrusted to the command of the Marquis de Santa Cruce, a naval officer of great skill and reputation. Besides these extensive naval preparations, a veteran army was assembled in that part of the Netherlands, which still groaned under the Spanish yoke, and placed under the command of the prince of Parma, the ablest and most successful general of his age. This army was destined to co-operate with the Spanish fleet as soon as it should arrive in sight of the Flemish coast.

But the plans of Philip were for a time disconcerted, and the execution of his enterprise delayed nearly twelve months, by an adventurous exploit of sir Francis Drake, who sailed from England with a small fleet, entered the harbour of Cadiz, and attacked the detachment of the Spanish fleet which lay there, so successfully, as to take several of them, and burn or destroy the rest, amounting to nearly a hundred vessels of different kinds. After having effected this object, he sailed in search of a rich carrack, which was expected about that time to arrive at a Spanish port, laden with specie. Having fallen in with and cap-> tured this prize, he was enabled both to defray the charges of his expedition, and liberally reward the bravery of his seamen. The brilliant success with which this enterprise was crowned, produced a multitude of similar adventurers, and tended, no doubt, in a considerable degree to form

that daring and intrepid character for which the British navy has ever since been remarkable.

The interval which the successful enterprise of Drake had obtained, was diligently improved by Elizabeth in making preparations for a vigorous defence. All the military and naval strength she could collect, was indeed far inferior to that of her powerful antagonist; but what was wanting in numbers was abundantly compensated by patriotic zeal, and personal courage. The royal navy of England did not at that time exceed twenty-eight sail, many of which were mere sloops of war, and the largest were scarcely equal to one of our ordinary frigates. In this emergency, the merchants, residing in the principal commercial towns, were required to furnish, with the utmost expedition, their quotas of ships; a requisition which was obeyed with the utmost promptitude and zeal. The English fleet was commanded by lord Howard of Effingham, assisted by Drake, Hawkins, Frobisher, and other distinguished naval commanders. The chief rendezvous was at Plymouth, but a small detachment was stationed off Dunkirk, to watch the motions and intercept the passage of the prince of Parma. Two armies were also assembled, one at Tilbury, under the command of the earl of Leicester, and the other on the southern coast, as an army of reserve, commanded by lord Hunsdon. In making these arrangements for a conflict which was likely to prove so perilous, Elizabeth displayed the calmness and intrepidity of a true heroine. She rode on horseback through the ranks of her soldiers, exhorting them to defend with invincible courage their country and their religion, and declaring that she was resolved to conduct them in person to the field of battle, where she would rather perish than survive the ruin of her people. The martial spirit of their queen fired the troops with enthusiasm, and revived in their breast those chivalrous feelings which had long ceased to operate.

At length the mighty armament of Philip, which had been so pompously announced to all the European courts, as "the invincible armada," which had received the special benediction of the Roman pontiff, and on which all the

hopes of the catholics throughout Europe were fixed, was fully equipped and ready to set sail from the port of Lisbon. Just at this crisis, a fever seized the admiral and vice-admiral, on whose nautical skill much reliance had been placed, which swept them into the grave. Their posts were but ill supplied by the duke of Medina Sidonia, a nobleman of high rank, but wholly ignorant of naval affairs.

Scarcely had the armada quitted its harbour, when it encountered a violent storm, by which it was dispersed, and obliged to take shelter in the nearest port. This occurrence had nearly proved fatal to the English; for Elizabeth having received information of the dispersion and return of the armada, sent positive orders to her admiral, lord Effingham, not only to return to port, but to dismantle his fleet, and discharge his seamen, confidently expecting that the attempt would not be renewed till the following year. But lord Effingham, happily for England, ventured on this occasion to disobey these instructions, and though he returned to Plymouth, kept his fleet in readiness to sail at the shortest notice. The injury received by the Spanish fleet was soon repaired, and after a few days it sailed again towards the English coast. The English admiral was informed of this, just in sufficient time to escape out of the harbour, and give the enemy battle in the channel. A most decisive victory was obtained by the English with the utmost ease, chiefly through the stratagem of sending small vessels filled with combustible materials into the midst of the hostile fleet, which was by this means thrown into confusion, and not a few of its larger vessels captured or burnt. The rout was so total, that the duke of Medina Sidonia resolved to return home with his shattered fleet by the north seas, rather than to encounter again the victorious British fleet in the channel. The ill success, which had attended this expedition from its commencement, followed it to its close. For after the armada had passed the Orkneys, it encountered another tremendous tempest, by which several ships were sunk, and others driven on the Irish coast. A small proportion arrived in Spain, and those were so unfit for action, that Philip was deterred for the present