might note in him some variety in businesses, though indeed he remained constant, would say, that the sun many times shineth watery; but it is not the sun which causeth it, but some cloud rising betwixt us and the sun and when that is scattered, the sun is as it was, and comes to his former brightness.

7. His majesty, in his answer to the book of the cardinal of Evereux, (who had in a grave argument of divinity, sprinkled many witty ornaments of poesy and humanity), saith; that these flowers were like blue, and yellow, and red flowers in the corn, which make a pleasant shew to those that look on, but they hurt the corn.

8. Sir Edward Coke being vehement against the two provincial councils of Wales, and the north, said to the king; there was nothing there but a kind of confusion and hotch-potch of justice: one while they were a star-chamber; another while a king's-bench; another, a common-pleas; another, a commission of oyer and terminer. His majesty answered; why, Sir Edward Coke, they be like houses in progress, where I have not, nor can have, such distinct rooms of state, as I have here at Whitehall, or at Hampton-court.

9. The commissioners of the treasury moved the King for the relief of his estate, to disafforest

some forests of his, explaining themselves of such forests as lay out of the way, not near any of the king's houses, nor in the course of his progress; whereof he should never have use nor pleasure. Why, (saith the king) do you think that Solomon had use and pleasure of all his three hundred concubines ?

10. His majesty, when the committees of both houses of parliament presented unto him the instru ment of union of England and Scotland, was merry with them; and amongst other pleasant speeches, shewed unto them the laird of Lawreston a Scotchman, who was the tallest and greatest man that was to be seen, and said; well, now we are all one, yet none of you will say, but here is one Scotchman greater than any Englishman, which was an ambiguous speech; but it was thought he meant it of himself.

11. His majesty would say to the lords of his council when they sate upon any great matter, and came from council in to him, well, you have set, but what have you hatched?

12. When the arch-duke did raise his siege from the Grave, the then secretary came to queen Elizabeth. The queen (having first intelligence there of), said to the secretary, wote you what? The arch-duke is risen from the grave. He answered;

what, without the trumpet of the arch-angel? The queen replied, yes; without the sound of trumpet.

13. Queen Elizabeth was importuned much by my lord of Essex, to supply divers great offices that had been long void; the queen answered nothing to the matter; but rose up on the sudden, and said: I am sure my office will not be long void. And yet at that time there was much speech of troubles, and divisions about the crown, to be after her decease but they all vanished; and King James came in, in a profound peace.

14. The council did make remonstrance unto Queen Elizabeth, of the continual conspiracies against her life; and namely, that a man was lately taken, who stood ready in a very dangerous and suspicious manner to do the deed and they shewed her the weapon, wherewith he thought to have acted it. And therefore they advised her, that she should go less abroad to take the air, weakly attended, as she used. But the queen

answered; that she had rather be in custody.

dead, than put

15. Henry the fourth of France his queen was young with child; count Soissons, that had his expectation upon the crown, when it was twice or thrice thought that the queen was with child before, said to some of his friends, that it was but

B

with a pillow. This had some ways come to the king's ear; who kept it till such time as the queen waxed great then he called the count of Soissons to him, and said, laying his hand upon the queen's belly; come cousin, is this a pillow? The count of Soissons answered; yes, sir, it is a pillow for all France to sleep upon.

16. The said king Henry the fourth was moved by his parliament to war against the protestants: he answered, yes, I mean it; I will make every one of you captains: you shall have companies assigned you. The parliament observing whereunto his speech tended, gave over, and deserted the motion.

17. Queen Elizabeth was wont to say, upon the commission of sales, that the commissioners used her like strawberry-wives, that layed two or three great strawberries at the mouth of their pot, and all the rest were little ones: so they made her two or three good prizes of the first particulars, but fell straightways.

18. Queen Elizabeth used to say of her instructions to great officers, that they were like to garments, straight at the first putting on, but did by and by, wear loose enough.

19. A great officer at court, when my lord of Essex was first in trouble; and that he, and those that dealt for him, would talk much of my lord's.

friends, and of his enemies, answered to one of them; I will tell you, I know but one friend and one enemy my lord hath; and that one friend is the queen, and that one enemy is himself.

20. The book of deposing king Richard the second, and the coming in of Henry the fourth, supposed to be written by doctor Hayward, who was committed to the Tower for it, had much incensed queen Elizabeth; and she asked Mr. Bacon, being then of her council learned, whether there were any treason contained in it? Who intending to do him a pleasure, and to take off the queen's bitterness with a merry conceit, answered; no, madam, for treason I cannot deliver opinion that there is any, but very much felony: the queen apprehending it gladly, asked, how; and wherein? Mr. Bacon answered, because he had stolen many of his sentences and conceits out of Cornelius Tacitus.

21. Queen Elizabeth being to resolve upon a great officer, and being by some, that canvassed for others, put in some doubts of that person, whom she meant to advance, called for Mr. Bacon; and told him, she was like one with a lanthorn seeking a man, and seeming unsatisfied in the choice she had of a man for that place. Mr. Bacon answered her, that he had heard that in old time, there was usually painted on the church walls the day of doom.