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the courfe of justice, tending fo greatly to her majesty's fafety, and prefervation of the whole realm ?

And for the other part, of keep ing it by me to fuch end as is before alleged, I trust the world does not hold me fo undutiful to her majesty, or ill-advised for my particular, as to take fuch a charge upon me, to the evident peril, of her majefty's life, fubverfion of the whole eftate, and my own utter overthrow. Neither is there cause to think (I fpeak it in all reverence, and under her majefty's most gracious favour), that her majefty having proceeded fo far as fhe had done to the trial of that lady's fact, found her guilty by a most honourable jury of her nobility, affembled her parliament only for that purpofe, graciously heard their petitions, and difmiffed them with fo great hope; published afterwards the proclamation for her difhabilment, rejected the fuits both of the French and Scotifh kings for her life, and returned their ambaffadors hopeless; confirmed that impreffion by her letters to both princes (fome of which it pleafed her to

* Let me here, at the end of the apology, remark finally concerning Davifon, That, though he was not an honest man, yet he was fo nearly one, as to be a very prodigy for the miniftry of Elizabeth. He refufed, it appears, to fign that very bond of affociation, which was figned by all the nation, and which even the defpairing Mary offered, on her liberty being granted, to fign herself. Yet be refused, though Leicester pushed on the affociation, and though Elizabeth urged him to fign it. Among the pleas which he advances for himself in his other apology, he particularly states, "his former abfolute refufal to fign the band of affociation, being earnestly preffed thereunto by her majesty's felf" (Robertfon, ii. 483). This indeed is a very ftrong evidence, of a manly virtuoufnefs in him. But he did other things, in the fame fpirit of virtue. He declined to act as a commiffioner, on the examination of Babington and his accomplices, for their confpiracy in favour of Mary; and took a journey to Bath, in order to fave himself from acting (Robertfon, ii. 483). He was a means too of prevent

communicate with myself); protefted many hundred times her neceffity, and refolution, to go through withal (albeit, for fundry good refpects, fhe had fo long deferr❜d it) ; having given her commandment to me many days before, to bring the warrant to her, and then voluntarily fent for it by my lord admiral'; figning it as foon as I brought it, with her exprefs commandment given me, to carry it to the feal, and to have it fecretly handled; and, finally, her particular direction, while fhe was figning other things at the fame time, to have the execution done in the hall, mifliking that it fhould be on the green or open court; with a number of other, foregoing and following circumftances; may fufficiently testify her majefty's difpofition to have it proceeded in, albeit fhe had to myfelf and others declared her unwil lingness, to be made acquainted with the time and other circumftances, having done all that the law required of her, or that in honour was fit and expedient for her *.

HIS

ing the commiffioners, who were fent to try Mary at Fotheringay-caftle, from pronouncing fentence upon her immediately after the trial; and of obliging them to return firft to London, and report their pro ceedings to Elizabeth (Robertson, ii. 483). We have already feen, that he kept the war rant for the execution of Mary, five or fix weeks in his hands; without offering to prefent it to Elizabeth, for her figning. We have equally feen, that he actually neglected to obey a perfonal command of Elizabeth's, for bringing the warrant to her; and that he thus neglected for "many days," even till the queen fired at his conduct, and fent him a peremptory order to bring it. Even then, and even when Paulet's anfwer had been received, and all delay was now at an end for ever; he would not be concerned in fending away the warrant himself, but returned it into the hands from which he had received it, and left Cecil and the council to fend it. And, as in all the time" before her trial, he neither is nor can be charged, to have had any hand at all in the cause of the faid queen,

or

HISTORICAL SELECTIONS. [By J. R. of Liverpool.]

I.

reach of the oars, and, griping him by the small of the back, his devouring jaws foon cut the poor man afunder, and as foon swallowed the lower part

STRIKING INSTANCE OF PERSONAL of his body. The remainder was taken

COURAGE.

[From Hughes's Hiftory of Barbadoes.] SOME failors having difembarked the last part of their lading in the island of Barbadoes, which was coals, those who had been employed in that dirty work, ventured into the fea to wash themselves; but had not been long there, before a perfon on board obferved a large hark making towards them, and gave them notice of their danger; on which they fwam back, and all except one reached the boat; him the hark overtook almost within or done any thing whatfoever concerning the fame, directly or indirectly;" fo, "after the return thence of the-commiffioners, it is well known to all her council, that be never was at any deliberation or meeting whatJoever, in parliament or council, concerning the caufe of the faid queen, till the fending down of her majefty's warrant unto the commiffioners, by the lords and others of her council" (Robertson, ii. 481).

Thefe deeds of honefty, no doubt, had fucceffively marked him out for vengeance, to the rest of the miniftry and to the queen. He was therefore felected by Cecil," with her majesty's own privity," to be the fecretary with whom the warrant fhould be lodged for figning (Robertson, ii. 481). He was thus expofed to a train of decifive trials. It would be feen, whether he offered to present the warrant to Elizabeth, for her fignature. Should he not offer, a command might be given him by Elizabeth, to bring it up. Should he hesitate to obey this, a harp rebuke and a peremptory order might be fent him. If he was refractory in all thefe points, then the wrath of Elizabeth would burst out upon him, and sweep him away from her prefence for ever. If he complied in any, his farther compliance might be tried, in ordering him to the great feal with the warrant, and in directing him to ule the warrant, when fealed, with fecrefy. Should he be found pliable in this trial, the grand scheme of affaffination, the favourite with of Elizabeth's heart, which had repeatedly been talked over by her other minifters before Elizabeth and him, which they all united to ap

up, and carried on board. The comrade of the deceased was present, between whom a friendship had long been confpicuous by a reciprocal difcharge of all fuch endearing offices as implied an union and fympathy of foul. On feeing the fe vered trunk of his friend, he was filled with an horror and emotion too great for words to exprefs. During this affecting fcene, the infatiable fhark was obferved traverfing the bloody furface, and searching after the other part of his prey. The crew thought themselves happy in being fafely on board; and the prove, though none of them offered to undertake, and which had been fo talked over, and so approved of, merely to put Davifon upon undertaking it; might finally be urged upon Davifon in private, by Elizabeth herfelf. Should he bend to this urgency, and engage in the work of affaffination; Elizabeth, as foon as ever the work was done, would have rifen upon him with an affected paffion, and made his life the forfeit of his compliance. And should he not bend, all his present and all his former refractorinefs would be remembered at once against him, and unite to draw down the rage of Elizabeth in a form of real refentment upon him. Either way, the man was fure to be ruined. He complied, though only in part. He brought up the warrant, at the fecond order. He carried it to the great feal. He even united with Walfingham, to mention Elizabeth's propofal of affaffination to Paulet. But he would go.no farther. He actually protefted to Elizabeth herself against the proposal, before he mentioned it to Paulet. He protefted to her against every scheme of affaffination. And he was therefore ruined at last by Elizabeth, in a most impudent stretch of falfhood, for doing what he did not do, and in truth and reality for not doing what he was wanted to do

Thus fell Davifon, a memorable evidence of the cunning, the perfidioufnefs, and the barbarity of Elizabeth and her Cecil! But he was fully revenged of them both, in his fall. He wrote the prefent apology, which ferves fo greatly to expose the characters of both.-WHITAKER

comrade

ner difcovered fresh food for his

ention, than he made furioufly wards the hero; both were equally er, the one for prey, the other revenge. The moment the fhark ned his rapacious jaws, his adfary dexterously diving, and fping him with his left hand, mewhat below the upper fins, fucsfully employed his knife in his ht hand, giving him repeated fiabs the belly. The enraged fhark, er many unavailing efforts, findhimself over matched in his own ment, endeavoured to decline the

bat. Sometimes he plunged he bottom; then, mad with pain, red his uncouth form, now ftained ch his own blood, above the foam waves. The crews of the furunding veffels faw the horrid com, but uncertain from which the

eams of blood iffued, till at length - fhark much weakened by the

of blood, made towards the ore, and with him his conqueror, o, flashed with an affurance of tory, pushed his foe with rebled ardour, and by the help of ebbing tide, dragging him on pre, ripped up his bowels, and ited and buried the fevered body his friend in one grave. Mr. Hughes obferves that this ry is of fo extraordinary a nature, at he would not have dared to Cert it had he not been authorized the teftimony of a very creditle gentleman, who was ready to nfirm the truth of it by an oath.

II.

ANECDOTE OF LEWIS XIV.

but it was in confidence that your majefty watched for your peoples fafety." The king, though abfolute and ambitious, had an elevated mind: he approved of her answer, bold as it was, and ordered her to receive ample fatisfaction for the ofs fhe had sustained.

III.

ANECDOTE OF THE LATE KING OF PRUSSIA.

A Lady of high fashion, complimenting the king in fuch high terins, that his Pruffian majefty was rather faying, amongst other things, that difgufted at it than pleafed; and he was covered with glory, was the peace-maker of Europe, and in fhort the greatest monarch and man on earth" Madam," replied the king, You are as handfome as an able; in fhort, you poflefs all the adangel; witty, elegant, and agreemirable qualities, but-you paint!"

IV.

PRINCELY MODERATION.

BALDWIN, king of Jerufalem, having been poifoned by his phyfi cian at the age of thirty-two, Nouraddin, the Saracen emperor, with a magnanimity that would have done honour to the most civilized nation, refufed to derive any advantage from his death: "Let us rather bear a part," faid he," in the general grief, for the lofs of a prince who has not left his equal behind him."

LEGAL ADVICE. [An Anecdote, tranfmitted by J. S.] SOME few years fince, one of

THIS monarch was once approach- the fons of Mr. G

a well

1

of marrying a fair Chriftian, the father, who had no objection to the religion, but to the fmallnefs of the fortune, expatiated with his fon on the abfurdity of his conduct; but the fon, vindicating his choice, replied, "Whether you confent or not, I will marry the lady; and if you refufe to give me a proper flare of fortune, I will turn Christian, claim the benefit of the law, and obtain half your property!" At this menace, G- being greatly confounded, refolved to confult counfel on the legality of the doctrine. The counfellor replied, That his fon, by turning Chriftian, would indeed obtain half his eftate. "But, if you will make me a prefent of ten guineas, the gracelefs dog fhall never obtain a farthing." At this, G's hopes revived; and inftantly putting ten guineas into the lawyer's hand, expreffed his anxiety to know in what manner he was to proceed. The counfellor replied, with a fmile, "You have nothing to do, Mr. G-, but to turn Chriftian your felf!"

COMMUNICATIONS By Adolefcentulus.

I.

STRIKING INSTANCES OF PRODIGALITY.

THE prodigality of the emperor Heliogabalus was as boundlefs as his luft; for in the fhort time of his reign, he is faid to have nearly reduced to beggary all the fubjects of the empire, and to have left, at his death, the Exchequer quite empty. He fuffered nothing to ap pear at his table, but what was brought from diftant countries, at an immenfe expence. His palace, his chamber, and his beds, were all furnished with cloth of gold. When he went abroad, all the way between his chamber and the place where his chariot waited for him, was itrewed with gold-duft; for he thought it

.

beneath him to tread upon the ground like other men. All his tables, chefts, chairs, and fuch veffels as were deftined for the meanest ufes, were of pure gold. Though his cloaths were exceeding coftly, and befet with jewels and precious fones, yet he is faid never to have worn one fuit twice, nor ever put on again a ring which he had once uted. He was conftantly ferved in gold plate; but every night after fupper, prefented to his guests and friends what had been made use of that day. He often diftributed among the people and foldiery, not only corn and money, as other emperors had done, but gold and filver plate, jewels and precious ftones, and tickets entitling them to great fums, which were immediately paid. He caufed his fifh-pond to be filled with water distilled from roses, and the Naumachia, where the fea fights were exhibited, with wine. His banquets and entertainments were expenfive almost beyond belief; his favourite dishes being tongues of peacocks and nightingales, and the brains of parrots and pheasants. He fed his dogs with livers of geefe, his horfes with raifins, and his lions and other wild beasts with partridges and pheafants. In fhort, the whole wealth of the Roman empire was fcarce fufficient to fupply the extravagance of one man.

Herod. p. 569. vit. Heliog. p. 102,

II.

wife fo fond of fuperfluity and exTHE emperor Vitellius was likecefs, that for one fingle meal he or dered two thoufand different kinds of fish, and feven thousand fowl. Withwith the poet Philocenus, who with out doubt, thefe epicures agreed ed that he had a crane's neck, that he might longer enjoy the pleasure of eating and drinking.

III.

MULEASSES, king of Thumes, was fo complete an epicure, that

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INSOLENCE REBUKED.

UPSTART infolence never experienced a more humiliating reproof, than in the perfon of that Great child of honour," cardinal Wolfey. Lord Sands was a young nobleman, who, among other compliances with the gay vices of the age in which he lived, ufed to indulge himself in a too frequent and free ufe of the bottle: one evening, after having spent the greatest part of the day with his convivial companions, he happened to meet the cardinal; who obferving him to be much intoxicated, faid, he wondered he could fo debafe the illuftrious title he fuftained, as to put himself more in the character of a coal porter than a nobleman: adding, that it would be far more commendable in him to employ his money in the discharging of his father's debts, than in wantonly fpending it in taverns. His lordhip, with affected contrition, immediately replied, "I confefs I feel

the full force of your grace's juft, though fevere reflection; and to convince you of its good effects, fhall inftantly fet about putting in prac tice your equitable advice-And firft, here is two-pence halfpenny, which my father, the lord, owed your grace's father, the butcher, for a calf's heart." Every one who is in the least acquainted with the haughty difpofition of that afpiring churchman, will readily conceive what he must have felt upon meeting with fo pungent and unexpected a farcafm.

11.

FEMALE HEROISM.

READING the other day of a certain Spartan lady, who upon giving the field into her fon's hand, when going to battle; heroically defired him either to return with it, or return upon it; brought to my re membrance a circumftance which, I think, deserves no lefs to be handed down to pofterity.

Some time after the commencement of the American war, a number of new regiments were ordered to be raifed principally in the North. The fon of a peer in that part of the kingdom, having received a captain's commiffion, in recruiting for his complement of men, happened to enlift the only fon of a poor, old and infirm woman. No fooner did the unwelcome information reach her ears, than fhe posted off for the rendezvous, with all the speed her feeble limbs could carry her. Being arrived, fhe fat down oppofite to her fon, afked if what he had heard was true, and if he really was enlifted. Being anfwered in the affirmative, he turned round to the ferjeant and defired to know if it was not customary upon fuch occafions to drink his majesty's health in a crown bowl of punch: being asfured it was, "Then," faid he, "let it be made; and instead of a crown, make half a guinea's worth, and I will Zzz

pay

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