courtiers made out; but she was well enough, and no doubt looked all the
better for coming after the dark and gloomy Mary. She was well educated,
but a roundabout writer, and rather a hard swearer and coarse talker. She
was clever, but cunning and deceitful, and inherited much of her father's
violent temper. I mention this now, because she has been so over-praised
by one party, and so over-abused by another, that it is hardly possible
to understand the greater part of her reign without first understanding
what kind of woman she really was.

She began her reign with the great advantage of having a very wise and
careful Minister, SIR WILLIAM CECIL, whom she afterwards made LORD
BURLEIGH. Altogether, the people had greater reason for rejoicing than
they usually had, when there were processions in the streets; and they
were happy with some reason. All kinds of shows and images were set up;
GOG and MAGOG were hoisted to the top of Temple Bar, and (which was more
to the purpose) the Corporation dutifully presented the young Queen with
the sum of a thousand marks in gold--so heavy a present, that she was
obliged to take it into her carriage with both hands. The coronation was
a great success; and, on the next day, one of the courtiers presented a
petition to the new Queen, praying that as it was the custom to release
some prisoners on such occasions, she would have the goodness to release
the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and also the Apostle
Saint Paul, who had been for some time shut up in a strange language so
that the people could not get at them.

To this, the Queen replied that it would be better first to inquire of
themselves whether they desired to be released or not; and, as a means of
finding out, a great public discussion--a sort of religious
tournament--was appointed to take place between certain champions of the
two religions, in Westminster Abbey. You may suppose that it was soon
made pretty clear to common sense, that for people to benefit by what
they repeat or read, it is rather necessary they should understand
something about it. Accordingly, a Church Service in plain English was
settled, and other laws and regulations were made, completely
establishing the great work of the Reformation. The Romish bishops and
champions were not harshly dealt with, all things considered; and the
Queen's Ministers were both prudent and merciful.

The one great trouble of this reign, and the unfort