Love and Freindship [sic]
with a most unshaken fortitude, firm in her mind; constant in her
Religion; and prepared herself to meet the cruel fate to which she was
doomed, with a magnanimity that would alone proceed from conscious
Innocence. And yet could you Reader have beleived it possible that some
hardened and zealous Protestants have even abused her for that
steadfastness in the Catholic Religion which reflected on her so much
credit? But this is a striking proof of _their_ narrow souls and
prejudiced Judgements who accuse her. She was executed in the Great
Hall at Fortheringay Castle (sacred Place!) on Wednesday the 8th of
February 1586—to the everlasting Reproach of Elizabeth, her Ministers,
and of England in general. It may not be unnecessary before I entirely
conclude my account of this ill-fated Queen, to observe that she had
been accused of several crimes during the time of her reigning in
Scotland, of which I now most seriously do assure my Reader that she
was entirely innocent; having never been guilty of anything more than
Imprudencies into which she was betrayed by the openness of her Heart,
her Youth, and her Education. Having I trust by this assurance entirely
done away every Suspicion and every doubt which might have arisen in
the Reader’s mind, from what other Historians have written of her, I
shall proceed to mention the remaining Events that marked Elizabeth’s
reign. It was about this time that Sir Francis Drake the first English
Navigator who sailed round the World, lived, to be the ornament of his
Country and his profession. Yet great as he was, and justly celebrated
as a sailor, I cannot help foreseeing that he will be equalled in this
or the next Century by one who tho’ now but young, already promises to
answer all the ardent and sanguine expectations of his Relations and
Freinds, amongst whom I may class the amiable Lady to whom this work is
dedicated, and my no less amiable self.
Though of a different profession, and shining in a different sphere of
Life, yet equally conspicuous in the Character of an _Earl_, as Drake
was in that of a _Sailor_, was Robert Devereux Lord Essex. This
unfortunate young Man was not unlike in character to that equally
unfortunate one _Frederic Delamere_. The simile may be carried still
farther, and Elizabeth the torment of Essex may be compared to the
Emmeline of Delamere. It would be endless to recount the misfortunes of
this noble and gallant Earl. It is sufficient to say that he was
beheaded on the 25th of Feb, after having been Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, after having clapped his hand on his sword, and after
performing many other services to his Country. Elizabeth did not long
survive his loss, and died so miserable that were it not an injury to
the memory of Mary I should pity her.
JAMES the 1st
Though this King had some faults, among which and as the most
principal, was his allowing his Mother’s death, yet considered on the
whole I cannot help liking him. He married Anne of Denmark, and had
several Children; fortunately for him his eldest son Prince Henry died
before his father or he might have experienced the evils which befell
his unfortunate Brother.
As I am myself partial to the roman catholic religion, it is with
infinite regret that I am obliged to blame the Behaviour of any Member
of it: yet Truth being I think very excusable in an Historian, I am
necessitated to say that in this reign the roman Catholics of England
did not behave like Gentlemen to the protestants. Their Behaviour
indeed to the Royal Family and both Houses of Parliament might justly
be considered by them as very uncivil, and even Sir Henry Percy tho’
certainly the best bred man of the party, had none of that general
politeness which is so universally pleasing, as his attentions were
entirely confined to Lord Mounteagle.
Sir Walter Raleigh flourished in this and the preceeding reign, and is
by many people held in great veneration and respect—But as he was an
enemy of the noble Essex, I have nothing to say in praise of him, and
must refer all those who may wish to be acquainted with the particulars
of his life, to Mr Sheridan’s play of the Critic, where they will find
many interesting anecdotes as well of him as of his friend Sir
Christopher Hatton.—His Majesty was of that amiable disposition which
inclines to Freindship, and in such points was possessed of a keener
penetration in discovering Merit than many other people. I once heard
an excellent Sharade on a Carpet, of which the subject I am now on
reminds me, and as I think it may afford my Readers some amusement to
_find it out_, I shall here take the liberty of presenting it to them.
SHARADE
My first is what my second was to King James the 1st, and you tread on
my whole.
The principal favourites of his Majesty were Car, who was afterwards
created Earl of Somerset and whose name perhaps may have some share in
the above mentioned Sharade, and George Villiers afterwards Duke of
Buckingham. On his Majesty’s death he was succeeded by his son Charles.
CHARLES the 1st
This amiable Monarch seems born to have suffered misfortunes equal to
those of his lovely Grandmother; misfortunes which he could not deserve
since he was her descendant. Never certainly were there before so many
detestable Characters at one time in England as in this Period of its
History; never were amiable men so scarce. The number of them
throughout the whole Kingdom amounting only to _five_, besides the
inhabitants of Oxford who were always loyal to their King and faithful
to his interests. The names of this noble five who never forgot the
duty of the subject, or swerved from their attachment to his Majesty,
were as follows—The King himself, ever stedfast in his own
support—Archbishop Laud, Earl of Strafford, Viscount Faulkland and Duke
of Ormond, who were scarcely less strenuous or zealous in the cause.
While the _villains_ of the time would make too long a list to be
written or read; I shall therefore content myself with mentioning the
leaders of the Gang. Cromwell, Fairfax, Hampden, and Pym may be
considered as the original Causers of all the disturbances, Distresses,
and Civil Wars in which England for many years was embroiled. In this
reign as well as in that of Elizabeth, I am obliged in spite of my
attachment to the Scotch, to consider them as equally guilty with the
generality of the English, since they dared to think differently from
their Sovereign, to forget the Adoration which as _Stuarts_ it was
their Duty to pay them, to rebel against, dethrone and imprison the
unfortunate Mary; to oppose, to deceive, and to sell the no less
unfortunate Charles. The Events of this Monarch’s reign are too
numerous for my pen, and indeed the recital of any Events (except what
I make myself) is uninteresting to me; my principal reason for
undertaking the History of England being to Prove the innocence of the
Queen of Scotland, which I flatter myself with having effectually done,
and to abuse Elizabeth, tho’ I am rather fearful of having fallen short
in the latter part of my scheme.—As therefore it is not my intention to
give any particular account of the distresses into which this King was
involved through the misconduct and Cruelty of his Parliament, I shall
satisfy myself with vindicating him from the Reproach of Arbitrary and
tyrannical Government with which he has often been charged. This, I
feel, is not difficult to be done, for with one argument I am certain
of satisfying every sensible and well disposed person whose opinions
have been properly guided by a good Education—and this Argument is that
he was a STUART.
FINIS
Saturday Nov: 26th 1791.
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS
To Miss COOPER
COUSIN
Conscious of the Charming Character which in every Country, and every
Clime in Christendom is Cried, Concerning you, with Caution and Care I
Commend to your Charitable Criticism this Clever Collection of Curious
Comments, which have been Carefully Culled, Collected and Classed by
your Comical Cousin
The Author
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS
LETTER the FIRST
From a MOTHER to her FREIND.
My Children begin now to claim all my attention in different Manner
from that in which they have been used to receive it, as they are now
arrived at that age when it is necessary for them in some measure to
become conversant with the World, My Augusta is 17 and her sister
scarcely a twelvemonth younger. I flatter myself that their education
has been such as will not disgrace their appearance in the World, and
that _they_ will not disgrace their Education I have every reason to
beleive. Indeed they are sweet Girls—. Sensible yet
unaffected—Accomplished yet Easy—. Lively yet Gentle—. As their
progress in every thing they have learnt has been always the same, I am
willing to forget the difference of age, and to introduce them together
into Public. This very Evening is fixed on as their first _entrée_ into
Life, as we are to drink tea with Mrs Cope and her Daughter. I am glad
that we are to meet no one, for my Girls sake, as it would be awkward
for them to enter too wide a Circle on the very first day. But we shall
proceed by degrees.—Tomorrow Mr Stanly’s family will drink tea with us,
and perhaps the Miss Phillips’s will meet them. On Tuesday we shall pay
Morning Visits—On Wednesday we are to dine at Westbrook. On Thursday we
have Company at home. On Friday we are to be at a Private Concert at
Sir John Wynna’s—and on Saturday we expect Miss Dawson to call in the
Morning—which will complete my Daughters Introduction into Life. How
they will bear so much dissipation I cannot imagine; of their spirits I
have no fear, I only dread their health.
This mighty affair is now happily over, and my Girls _are out_. As the
moment approached for our departure, you can have no idea how the sweet
Creatures trembled with fear and expectation. Before the Carriage drove
to the door, I called them into my dressing-room, and as soon as they
were seated thus addressed them. “My dear Girls the moment is now
arrived when I am to reap the rewards of all my Anxieties and Labours
towards you during your Education. You are this Evening to enter a
World in which you will meet with many wonderfull Things; Yet let me
warn you against suffering yourselves to be meanly swayed by the
Follies and Vices of others, for beleive me my beloved Children that if
you do—I shall be very sorry for it.” They both assured me that they
would ever remember my advice with Gratitude, and follow it with
attention; That they were prepared to find a World full of things to
amaze and to shock them: but that they trusted their behaviour would
never give me reason to repent the Watchful Care with which I had
presided over their infancy and formed their Minds—” “With such
expectations and such intentions (cried I) I can have nothing to fear
from you—and can chearfully conduct you to Mrs Cope’s without a fear of
your being seduced by her Example, or contaminated by her Follies.
Come, then my Children (added I) the Carriage is driving to the door,
and I will not a moment delay the happiness you are so impatient to
enjoy.” When we arrived at Warleigh, poor Augusta could scarcely
breathe, while Margaret was all Life and Rapture. “The long-expected
Moment is now arrived (said she) and we shall soon be in the World.”—In
a few Moments we were in Mrs Cope’s parlour, where with her daughter
she sate ready to receive us. I observed with delight the impression my
Children made on them—. They were indeed two sweet, elegant-looking
Girls, and tho’ somewhat abashed from the peculiarity of their
situation, yet there was an ease in their Manners and address which
could not fail of pleasing—. Imagine my dear Madam how delighted I must
have been in beholding as I did, how attentively they observed every