to theyr so good a Queene, which will in no poynt forget any parcell of duetie louingly she∣wed vnto hir.
The aunswere which hir grace made vnto master Recorder of Lōdon, as the hearers know it to be true, and with melting heartes hearde the same: so may the reader thereof conceyue what kinde of stomacke and courage pronoun∣ced the same.
What more famous thing doe wee read in [ 10] auncient histories of olde tyme, than that migh∣tie Princes haue gently receyued presents offe∣red them by case and l•…•…we personages. If that be to be wondered at (as it is passingly) let mee see any wryter that in any one Princes life is able to recount so many presidents of this vertue as hir grace shewed in that one passage through the Citie. How many Nosegayes did hir grace receyue at poore womens handes? how oftenty∣mes stayed she hir Chariot, when she sawe any [ 20] simple body offer to speake to hir grace? A brāch of Rosemary giuen to hir grace with a supplica∣tion by a poore woman about Fleetbridge, was seene in hir chariot til hir grace came to Westm. not without the maruellous wondring of such as knew the presenter, and noted the Queenes most gracious receyuing and keeping the same.
What hope the poore and nedie may looke for at hir graces hand, she as in all hir iourney con∣tinually, so in hir harkening to the poore chil∣dren [ 30] of Christes Hospitall with eies cast vp in∣to heauen, did fully declare, as that neyther the wealthier estate coulde stande without consi∣deration had to the pouertie, neyther the pouer∣tie bee duely considered, vnlesse they were re∣membred, as commended to vs by Gods owne mouth.
As at hir first entrance she as it were decla∣red, hir selfe prepared to passe through a Citie that most entierly loued hir, so she at hir last de∣parting, [ 40] as it were bound hir selfe by promise, to continue good Ladie and gouernour vnto that Citie, whiche by outwarde declaration did o∣pen theyr loue, to theyr so louing and noble Prince, in such wise, as shee hir selfe wondered thereat.
But bycause Princes be set in their s•…•…ate by Gods appoynting, and therefore they most first and chiefly tender the glorie of him, from whom their glorie issueth: it is to be noted in hir grace, [ 50] that forsomuch as God hath so wonderfullye placed hir in the seate of gouernment ouer this Realme, shee in all doings doth shewe hir selfe moste myndfull of his goodnesse and mercye shewed vnto hir, and amongest all other, two principall signes thereof were noted in this pas∣sage. First in the Tower, where hir Grace be∣fore she entred hir Chariot, lyfted vp hir eyes to heauen and sayde.
O Lorde, almightie and euerlasting God, I giue thee most harty thāks, that thou hast bin so mercifull vnto me, as to spare me to beholde this ioyfull day. And I acknowledge that thou hast delt as wonderfully and as mercifully with me, as thou diddest with thy true and faythfull seruant Daniell thy Prophete, whom thou de∣liueredst out of the denne from the crueltie of the greedie and raging Lions: euen so was I o∣uerwhelmed, and onely by thee deliuered. To thee therfore onely be thankes, honor and praise, foreuer. Amen.
The second was the receyuing of the Bible at the little conduit in Cheape. For when hir Grace had learned that the Byble in Englishe should there be offred, she thanked the Citie ther∣fore, promised the reading thereof most dili∣gently, and incontinent commaunded, that it shoulde be brought. At the receyte whereof, how reuerently did she with both hir handes take it, kisse it, and lay it vpon hir breast? to the great comfort of the lookers on. God will vndoub∣tedly preserue so worthie a Prince, which at his honor so reuerently taketh hir beginning. For this saying is true, and written in the Booke of truth. He that first seeketh the kingdome of god, shal haue all other things cast vnto him.
Nowe therefore all Englishe heartes, and hir naturall people muste needes prayse Gods mercie which hath sent thē so worthie a princ•…•…, and pray for hir graces long continuaunce a∣mongst vs.
Sunday the .xv. of Ianuarie, hir Maiestie was with great solemnitie crowned at West∣minster in the Abbey Church there, by doctor Ogl•…•…thorpe Bishop of Carleil. Shee di•…•…ed in Westminster hall, which was richly b•…•…ng, and euerie thing ordered in suche royall maner as to suche a regall and most solemne feast apper∣teyned.
In the meane tyme, whilest hir grace sat at dinner, sir Edwarde Dimmocke knight hir Champion by office, came ryding into the Hall in fayre complete armour, mounted on a beautifull Courser, richly trapped in clothe of Golde, entred the Hall, and in the middest there∣of cast downe his gauntlet, wyth offer to fight wyth hym in hir quarell that shoulde denye hir to bee the rightuous and lawfull Queene of this Realme. The Queene taking a cuppe of Golde full of Wine, dranke to hym there∣of, and sent it to hym for his see togither wyth the Couer.
And after thys, at the seruing vp of the Wafers, the Lorde Maior of London went to the Cupboord, and fitting a cup of golde with I∣pocrasse, bare it to the Queene, and kneeling