If we cannot very much admire the personal character of Elizabeth, yet her public conduct as a queen was dictated by a strong desire to do good to the nation. Manufactures and commerce greatly increased during her reign and every encouragement was given to good and learned men so that knowledge increased greatly throughout the kingdom, during this reign; and it seems a most happy and providential thing, that, when there was a desire to study the Scriptures and to gain religious instruction, there should be so many great and enlightened scholars who were able to explain all these things and to lay them, in our own language, before the people.

But I shall say no more at present, excepting to remind you that whilst you are reading history you must be careful to remember the dates. Queen Elizabeth died in the year 1603.

I am your affectionate father, &c.

QUESTIONS.

In what year did queen Mary, of England, die?

Who became queen after her?

What relation was queen Elizabeth to queen Mary?

What religion was established in England by Elizabeth? What person laid claim to be considered heiress to the throne of England?

Did Mary, queen of Scots, enter into any conspiracies against Elizabeth?

What religion did Mary, the queen of Scotland, profess?

Was any battle fought between Elizabeth's forces and Mary's?
Which succeeded?

Did Mary surrender herself to the queen of England?
Was she kept in confinement?

Where?

What became of the queen of Scotland ?

From what quarter was an invasion planned against England? What religion did the Spaniards profess?

What did the Spaniards call their great fleet which was fitted out to invade England?

What became of the Spanish armada?

How did queen Elizabeth shew her gratitude to Providence for the dispersion of the Spanish fleet?

What sort of persons did queen Elizabeth choose for her ministers ?

What sort of people did she like to have about her court?
Who was lord Leicester?

Is there any account of a great entertainment which Leicester gave to the queen?

Where was this?

Who was the earl of Essex ?

What was the end of Essex?

Do you remember the story of the countess of Nottingham

and the ring?

Did lady Nottingham ever confess the truth about the ring?

How did the queen receive this confession?

What was the general character of queen Elizabeth?

Had the Reformation the effect of improving the state of the country?

In what year did queen Elizabeth die?

LETTER XXII.

MY DEAR BOY,

As we have seen that queen Elizabeth was never married, and consequently left no heirs, you will perhaps wonder who is to be the next king. We must, therefore, look back a little into our history to find the right heir to the throne. We must go back as far as Elizabeth's grandfather, Henry the VIIth. This king's daughter Margaret married the king of Scotland, James the IVth.; and their direct descendant, James the VIth. of Scotland, was consequently the right heir to the crown of England too. Accordingly he, was crowned under the title of James the First of England; and thus the crowns of England and Scotland became united under the same king. Though James was

undoubtedly the rightful king of England, it was not long before a number of persons entered into a conspiracy to dethrone him. This was set on foot by lord Grey, lord Cobham, and sir Walter Raleigh, who were all condemned to die. Lords Cobham and Grey were, however, pardoned; but, that they might feel some punishment for their crime, they were made to suffer all the terrors of death, for their pardon did not come till they had actually laid their heads on the block, expecting that, in a moment's time, they would be cut off. Sir Walter Raleigh was reprieved, but was still confined in prison; and, many years afterwards, having fallen into disgrace, this sentence was cruelly and unfairly executed, and he was beheaded.

As James the First was the son of Mary, queen of Scots, many of the Papists expected that he would encourage popery; and they were, therefore, grievously disappointed when they found, that, though he was too wise to oppress and persecute them, yet he still was a true and faithful friend to the Protestant cause. On this account, they contrived a plot to destroy him and his family, and both houses of Parliament together.

This is the horrid " Gunpowder plot," that you have so often heard of. The conspirators hired a house adjoining to that where Parliament met, from which they could get into the cellar, under the Parliament-house. Into this cellar they conveyed thirty-six barrels of gunpowder, and these they covered with coals and faggots, so that whoever saw the cellar could perceive nothing particular in the appearance of it, as it had been generally used to keep coals in. At the opening of the Parliament, the king, queen, and prince Henry, their eldest son, were expected to be present, and the conspirators seemed to think that nothing was likely to happen to check their wicked design.

However, Providence mercifully prevented this dreadful destruction. One of those concerned in the plot was sir Henry Percy; and he was very desirous of saving the life of lord Monteagle, who was his intimate friend. About ten days before the meeting of Parliament, this nobleman received a letter without any name to it, which was brought by a person who made his escape the moment he had delivered it. The following strange words were in the letter. "My lord,