by himself, a young stranger applied to him for charity. Signior Frescobald, seeing something in his countenance more than ordinary, overlooked his tattered clothes, and, compassionating his circumstances, asked him what he was, and of what country. "I am," answered the young man," a native of England; my name is Thomas Cromwell, and my father-in-law is a poor sheer-man. I left my country to seek my fortune; came with the French army that were routed at Gatylion, where I was page to a footman, and carried his pike and burgonet after him." Frescobald, commiserating his necessities, and having a particular respect for the English nation, clothed him genteelly, took him into his house till he had recovered strength by better diet, and, at his taking leave, mounted him on a good horse, with sixteen ducats of gold in his pockets. Cromwell expressed his thankfulness in a very sensible manner, and returned by land towards England; where, being arrived, he was preferred into the service of Cardinal Wolsey.

After the Cardinal's death, he worked himself so effectually into the favour of king Henry VIII, that his majesty made him a Baron, Viscount, Earl of Essex, and, at last, Lord Chancellor of England. In the mean time, Signior Frescobald, by repeated losses at sea and land, was reduced to poverty; and calling to mind, without ever thinking of Cromwell, that some English merchants were indebted to him in the sum of fifteen thousand ducats, he came to London to procure payment.

Travelling in pursuit of this affair, he fortunately met with the Lord Chancellor, as he was riding to court; who, thinking him to be

the same gentleman that had done him such great kindness in Italy, immediately alighted, embraced him, and, with tears of joy, asked him if he was not Signior Francis Frescobald, a Florentine merchant, "Yes, Sir," said he, "and your most humble servant," "My servant!" said the chancellor. "No; you are my special friend, that relieved me in my wants, laid the foundation of my greatness, and as such I receive you; and since the affairs of my sovereign will not now permit a longer conference, I beg you will oblige me this day with your company at my house to dinner with me."

Signior Frescobald was surprised and astonished with admiration who this great man should be, that acknowledged such obligations, and so passionately expressed a kindness for him; but, contemplating a while his mien, his voice, and carriage, he concludes it to be Cromwell, whom he had relieved at Florence; and therefore, not a little overjoyed, goes to his house, and attended his coming. His lordship came soon after, and, immediately taking his friend by the hand, turns to the lord high admiral, and other noblemen in his company, saying, "Don't your lordship wonder that I am so glad to see this gentleman? This is he who first contributed to my advancement." He then told them the whole story, and, holding him still by the hand, led him into the dining-room, and placed him next himself at table. The company being gone, the chancellor made use of this opportunity to know what affair had brought him into England. Frescobald in a few words, gave him the true state of his circumstances; to which Cromwell replied, "I

am sorry for your misfortunes, and I will make them as easy to you as I can; but, because men ought to be just before they are kind, it is fit I should repay the debt I owe you." Then, leading him to his closet, he locked the door, and, opening a coffer, first took out sixteen ducats, delivering them to Frescobald, and said, "My friend, here is the money you lent me at Florence, with ten pieces you laid out for my apparel, and ten more you paid for my horse; but considering that you are a merchant, and might have made some advantage by this money in the way of trade, take these four bags, in every one of which are four hundred ducats, and enjoy them as free gifts of your friend." These the modesty of Frescobald would have refused, but the other forced them upon him. He next caused him to give him the names of all his debtors, and the sums they owed; which account he transmitted to one of his servants, with. a charge to find out the men, and oblige them to pay him in fifteen days, under the penalty of his displeasure; and the servant so well discharged his duty, that in a short time the entire sum was paid. All this time, Signior Frescobald lodged in the chancellor's house, where he was entertained according to his merits, with repeated persuasions for his continuance in England, and an offer of the loan of sixty thousand ducats for four years, if he would trade here; but he desired to return to Florence, which he did, with extraordinary favours from the Lord Cromwell.

THE HAPPY TENANT.

A PIOUS clergyman in the diocese of Bishop Burnet had frequently meditated on these words of our Lord," Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." He considered that the Author spake as man never spake, and he prayed earnestly that he might understand their full import. The providence of God answered his prayer by the following occurrence:-One day, as he was meditating in the fields, he heard the voice of joy and praise from a neighbouring cottage: curiosity led him to the window, and he beheld the happy tenant, a poor woman, with the scanty provision of a cup of water and a piece of bread: her hands and eyes were lifted up to heaven, while with joyful gratitude she exclaimed, "What all this, and Jesus Christ too!" This fact explained the text in its true signification: it taught him that a small thing the righteous hath is better than great riches of the ungodly.

HEARERS, PUBLIC WORSHIP, &c.

Bigotted Hearer.

A PERSON meeting another returning, after having heard a popular preacher, and says to him, "Well, I hope you have been highly gratified." "Indeed, I have," replied the other. "I wish I could have prevailed on you to hear him; I am sure you would never have relished any other preacher afterwards." "Then," returned the wiser Christian, "I am determined I never will VOL. III. O

hear him, for I wish to hear such a preacher as will give me so high a relish and esteem for the word of God, that I shall receive it with greater eagerness and delight whenever it is delivered."

Humble Hearer.

"A torch may be lighted by a candle, and a knife be sharpened by an unpolished stone:" so Mr. Hildersham used to say, "that he never heard faithful minister in his life that was so mean, but he could discover some gift in him that was wanting in himself, and could receive some profit by him."

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The Practical Hearer.

A poor woman in the country went to hear a sermon, wherein, among other evil practices, the use of dishonest weights and measures was exposed. With this discourse she was much affected. The next day, when the minister, according to his custom, went among his hearers, and called upon the woman, he took occasion to ask her what she remembered of his sermon. The poor woman complained much of her bad memory, and said she had forgotten almost all that he delivered. "But one thing," said she, "I remembered; I remembered to burn my bushel."-A doer of the word cannot be a forgetful hearer.

Constant Hearer.

It is said of the late Countess of Burford, that though for the last few years of her life she had to ride almost constantly on horseback, upwards of sixteen miles, to and from the churches where