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 sanguineexpectations 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 equallyconspicuous 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 equallyunfortunate 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 amiabledisposition 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 VILLIANS 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 equallyguilty 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