full sail, with the motto, "_Venit, vidit, fugit_;" the
other, fire-ships scattering a fleet; the motto, "_Dux faemina facti_;" a
compliment to the queen, who is said to have herself suggested the
employment of these engines of destruction, by which the armada suffered
severely.

The intense interest in public events excited in every class by the
threatened invasion of Spain, gave rise to the introduction in this
country of one of the most important inventions of social life,--that of
newspapers. Previously to this period all articles of intelligence had
been circulated in manuscript; and all political remarks which the
government had found itself interested in addressing to the people, had
issued from the press in the shape of pamphlets, of which many had been
composed during the administration of Burleigh, either by himself or
immediately under his direction. But the peculiar convenience at such a
juncture of uniting these two objects in a periodical publication
becoming obvious to the ministry, there appeared, some time in the month
of April 1588, the first number of _The English Mercury_; a paper
resembling the present London Gazette, which must have come out almost
daily; since No. 50, the earliest specimen of the work now extant, is
dated July 23d of the same year. This interesting relic is preserved in
the British Museum.

In the midst of the public rejoicings an event occurred, which, in
whatever manner it might be felt by Elizabeth herself, certainly cast no
damp on the spirits of the nation at large; the death of Leicester.

After the frequent notices of this celebrated favorite contained in the
foregoing pages, a formal delineation of his character is
unnecessary;--a few traits may however be added.

Speaking of his letters and public papers, Naunton says, "I never yet
saw a style or phrase more seeming religious and fuller of the streams
of devotion;" and notwithstanding the charge of hypocrisy on this head
usually brought against Leicester in the most unqualified terms, many
reasons might induce us to believe his religious faith sincere, and his
attachment for certain schemes of doctrine, zealous. On no other
supposition does it appear possible to account for that steady patronage
of the puritanical party,--so odious to his mistress,--which gave on
some occasions such important advantages over him to his adversary
Hatton,--the only minister of Elizabeth who appears to have aimed at the
character of a h