These lines being a prophecy of the most remarkable actions during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, are to be interpreted after this manner:
Queen Mary is here meant, not so much for the cruelty done by her, as by the bishops and priests under her; in respect to the blood that was shed, and the persecutions then suffered, she is here termed a fierce “Lion;” after whom is said, “A maiden Queen to reign anon,” meant by Queen Elizabeth, one who was the mirror of her age and sex, who for above forty years managed the affairs of this kingdom; having, when she began, few friends that durst help, and leaving no foes when she died that could hurt her; acting her part so well whilst here she reigned, that history can scarce afford us one prince to be matched to her fame in all considerable particulars.
Soon after the queen coming to the crown, a Parliament began at Westminster, wherein the laws of King Henry VIII. against the see of “Rome” were renewed, and those of King Edward VI. in favour of the Protestants revived, and the laws by Queen Mary made against them, repealed.
Uniformity of prayer and administration of sacrament were enacted, and the queen acknowledged to be the only and supreme governor of her kingdom. The people in each place beating down superstitious pictures and images, which misguided zeal had set up.
By the “western monarch’s wooden horses,” is meant the King of Spain’s great Armada, by them termed invincible, though the success of it answered not the name; being by Sir Francis Drake and others fought with and really vanquished; most of it sunk, and the rest, destitute and scattered, being chased by our ships into the northern latitudes, and there left to be pursued by hunger and cold; a victory so remarkable, that neither time nor age will ever wear the remembrance thereof away.
The “widowed Queen” signifies the Queen of Scots, the mother of King James, who was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle, some say by the privity, others say to the great discontent of Queen Elizabeth; a lady of sharp wit, undaunted spirit, comely person, beautiful face, and majestic presence; a fluent orator, and an excellent poetess, as appears by several things of her writing now extant; she was beheaded on the 8th of February, 1587, and was first buried in the choir of Peterborough; and afterwards by her son, King James, solemnly removed from thence to Westminster, where, in the south side of the chapel of King Henry VII. he erected a stately monument to her memory.
“The Harp” signifies Ireland, as being the arms of that country, when Queen Elizabeth, by reducing it to a better obedience, made it give a better sound, that is, made it more civilized and profitable to the exchequer than it ever was before.
“An Earl without a head be found.” This was spoken of the Earl of Essex, one who was the favourite of the queen and darling of the people (two things which seldom come together), and yet could not both of them protect him from the scaffold, but thereon he lost his head.
By the “English Rose” is meant Queen Elizabeth, as we said before, by whose death the right and title to the crown came to James VI., King of Scotland, as lineally descended from Margaret, eldest daughter to King Henry VII., the male issue failing by the death of Queen Elizabeth; and here is to be remembered the policy of King Henry VII., who having two daughters, married the eldest of them to the King of Scotland, and the youngest to the King of France, that if his male issue should happen to fail, as it afterwards did, then Scotland might wait upon England as the greater kingdom, and not England upon France as the lesser. Besides, there was an old prophecy which intimated King James coming to the English crown; for when King Edward I. harassed Scotland, amongst other things he brought from thence their royal chair (still preserved at the Abbey, in Westminster), upon which chair these verses were written:
“If Fates go right, where’er this chair is pight,
The regal race of Scots shall rule that place.”