No captain then caroused, As they are at this day: When this old cap was new: Which made them forward still Our English then in fight Did foreign foes subdue, God save our gracious king, And send him long to live: Of that which is their due: There is a Garden in her Face.--From 'An Hour's Recreation in Music,' by Rich. Alison (1606). There is a garden in her face, Where roses and white lilies grow; A heavenly paradise is that place, Wherein all pleasant fruits do grow; Those cherries fairly do inclose Which when her lovely laughter shews, Her eyes like angels watch them still; PROSE LITERATURE. The prose writers of this age rank high in philosophy and solid learning, forming a noble background to the brilliant file of poets. The name of Bacon alone would render it illustrious in the world's history; but we have also the massive intellect and eloquence of Hooker and Raleigh-the graceful romance of Sir Philip Si Iney--the quaint e udition and fancy of Burton-the first valuable fruits of foreign travel and geographical discovery-and the researches of a host of annalists and antiquaries, the careful transmitters of national and legendary lore. Never was the popular mind more pregnant or fertil, though as yet the lighter graces of ease and elegance had not crowned our prose literature. JOHN FOX. JOHN FOX, a distinguished English divine and historian, was born at Boston in 1517. He studied at Oxford, where he applied himself with extreme industry and ardour to the study of divinity, and in particular to the investigation of those controverted points which were then engaging so much of the public attention. He became a convert to Protestantism, and, in 1545, was in consequence expelled from his college. After this, being deserted by his friends, he was reduced to great poverty, till a Warwickshire knight engaged him as tutor to his family. Towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII. be went to London, where he might have perished for want, had not reJief been administered to him by some unknown person, who seems to have been struck with his wretched appearance when sitting in St Paul's Cathedral. Soon after, he was fortunate enough to obtain employment as tutor in the Duchess of Richmond's family at Reigate, in Surrey, where he continued till the persecutions of Mary's reign made him flee for safety to the continent. Proceeding through Antwerp and Strasburg to Basel, he there supported himself by correcti g the press for Oporinus, a celebrated printer. At the accession of Queen Elizabeth, he returned to England, and was kindly received and provided for by the Duke of Norfolk, who had been his pupil at Reigate. Through other powerful friends, he might now have obtained considerable preferment; but entertaining conscientious scruples as to the articles which it was necessary to subscribe, and disapproving of some of the ceremonies of the church, he declined the offers made to him, except that of a prebend in the church of Salisbury, which he accepted with some rcluctance. He died in 1587. Fox was the author of a number of Latin treatises, chiefly on theological subjects; but the work on which his fame rests is his History of the Acts and Monuments of the Church, popularly denominated Fox's Book of Martyrs. This celebrated production, on which the author laboured for eleven years, was published in 1563, under the title of Acts and Monuments of these Latter Perillous Days, touching Matters of the Church, wherein are comprehended and described the Great Persecutions and Horrible Troubles that have been wrought and practised by the Romish Prelates, specially in this Realm of England and Scotland, from the Year of our Lord a Thousand, unto the Time now present,' &c. It was received with great favour by the Protestants, but was bitterly assailed by the Roman Catholics, and charged with gross misstatements. That the author has frequently erred, and, like other controversial writers of the time, sometimes lost his temper, and sullied his pages with coarse language, cannot be denied; he was also extremely credulous; but that he wilfully or malignantly misrepresented facts, no one has been able to prove. As to what he derived from written documents, Bishop Burnet bears strong testimony in his favour, by declaring that, having compared those Acts and Monuments with the records, he had never been able to discover any errors or prevarications in them, but the utmost fidelity and exactness.' The Death of Queen Anne Bolcyn. In certain records thus we find, that the king, being in his justs at Greenwich, suddenly, with a few persons, departed to Westminster; and the next day after, Queen Anne, his wife, was had to the Tower, with the Lord Rochford, her brother, and certain other, and the nineteenth day after, was beheaded. The words of this worthy and Christian lady, at her death, were these: Good Christian people, I ain come hither to die; for, according to the law, and by the law, I am judged to death, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that whereof I am accused, and condemned to die; but I pray God save the king, and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler or a more merciful prince was there never; and to me he was a very good, a gentle, and a sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world, and of you all; and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. The Lord have mercy on me; to God I recommend my soul.' And so she kneeled down, saying: "To Christ I commend my soul; Jesus, receive my soul,' repeating the same divers times, till at length the stroke was given, and her head was stricken off. And this was the end of that godly lady and queen. Godly I call her, for sundry respects, whatsoever the cause was, or quarrel objected against her. First, her last words, spoken at her death, declared no less her sincere faith and trust in Christ than did her quiet modesty utter forth the goodness of the cause and matter, whatsoever it was Besides that, to such as wisely can judge upon cases occurrent, this also may seem to give a great clearing unto her, that the king, the third day after, was married in his whites unto another. Certain this was, that for the rare and singular gifts of her mind, so well instructed, and given toward God, with such a fervent desire unto the truth, and setting forth of sincere religion, joined with like gentleness, mcdesty, and pity toward all men, there have not many such queens before her horne the crown of England. Principally, this one commendation she left behind her, that, during her life, the religion of Christ most happily flourished, and had a right prosperous course. Many things might be written more of the manifold virtues, and the quiet moderation of her mild nature; how lowly she would bear, not only to be admonished, but also of her own accord would require her chaplains plainly and freely to tell whatsoever they saw in her amiss. Also, how bountiful she was to the poor, passing not only the poor example of other queens, but also the revenues almost of her estate insomuch that the alms which she gave in three quarters of a year, in distribution, is summed to the number of fourteen or fifteen thousand pounds; besides the great piece of money which Her Grace intended to impart into four sundry quarters of the realm, as for a stock, there to be employed to the behoof of poor artificers and occupiers. Again, what a zealous defender she was of Christ's gosp all the world doth know, and her acts do and will declare to the world's end. Amongst which other her acts, this is one, that she placed Master Hugh Latimer in the bishopric of Worcester, and also preferred Dr. Sharton to his bishopric, being then accounted a good man. Furthermore, what a true faith she bore unto the Lord, this one example may stand for many: for that, when King Henry was with her at Woodstock, and there being afraid of an old blind prophecy, for the which neither he nor other kings before him durst hunt in the said park of Woodstock, nor enter into the town of Oxford, at last, through the Christian and faithful counsel of that queen, he was so armed against all infidelity, that both he hunted in the foresaid park, and also entered into the town of Oxford, and had no harm. But because touching the memorable virtues of this worthy queen, partly we have said something before, partly because more also is promised to be declared of her virtuous life (the Lord so permitting), by other who then were about her, I will cease in this matter further to proceed. A Notable History of William Hunter, a Young Man of 19 years, pursued to Death by Justice Brown, for the Gospel's Sake, worthy of all Young Men and Parents to be read. In the first year of Queen Mary, William Hunter, apprentice to a silk-weaver in London. was discharged from his master's employment, in consequence of his refusing to attend mass. Having returned to the house of his father at Bruntwood. he attracted the attention of the spiritual authorities by his reading a copy of the Scriptures. He was finally condemned to die for heresy. In the meantime, William's father and mother came to him, and desired heartily of God that he might continue to the end in that good way which he had begun; and his mother said to him that she was glad that ever she was so happy to bear such a child, which could find in his heart to lose his life for Christ's name sake. Then William said to his mother: For my little pain which I shall suffer, which is but a short braid, Christ hath promised me, mother,' said he, a crown of joy: may you not be glad of that, mother? With that, his mother kneeled down on her knees, saying: I pray God strengthen thee, my son, to the end: yea, I think thee as well bestowed as any child that ever I bare.' At the which words, Master Higbed took her in his arms, saying: 'I rejoice' (and so said the others) to see you in this mind, and you have a good cause to rejoice.' And his father and mother both said that they were never of other mind, but prayed for him, that as he had begun to confess Christ before men, he likewise might so continue to the end. William's father said: 'I was afraid of nothing, but that my son should have been killed in the prison for hunger and cold, the bishop was so hard to him.' But William confessed, after a month that his father was charged with his board, that he lacked nothing, but had meat and clothing enough, yea, even out of the court, both money, meat, clothes, wood, and coals, and all things necessary. Thus they continued in their inn, being the Swan in Bruntwood, in a parlour, whither resorted many people of the country, to see those good men which were there; and many of William's acquaintance came to him, and reasoned with him, and he with them, exhorting them to come away from the abomination of popish superstition and idolatry. Thus passing away Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, on Monday, at night, it happened that William had a dream about two of the clock in the morning, which was this: how that he was at the place where the stake was pight, where he should be burned, which (as he thought in his dream) was at the town's end where the butts (1) stood, which was so indeed; and also he dreamed that he met with his father, as he went to the stake, and also that there was a priest at the stake, which went about to have him recant. To whom he said (as he thought in his dream) how that he bade him away false prophet, and how that he exhorted the people to beware of him and such as he was; which things came to pass indeed. It happened that William made a noise to himself in his dream, which caused M. Higbed and the others to wake him out of his sleep, to know what he lacked. When he awaked, he told them his dream in order as is said. Now, when it was day, the sheriff, M. Brocket, called on to set forward to the burning of William Hunter. Then came the sheriff's son to William Hunter, and embraced him in his right arm, saying: 'William, be not afraid of these men, which are here present with bows, bills, and weapons, ready prepared to bring you to the place where you shall be burned.' To whom William answered: I thank God I am not afraid; for I have cast my count what it will cost me, already.' Then the sheriff's son could speak no more to him for weeping. Then William Hunter plucked up his gown, and stepped over the parlour grounsel, and went forward cheerfully, the sheriff's servant taking him by one arm, and his brother by another; and thus going in the way, he met with his father, according to his dream, and he spake to his son, weeping, and saying: God be with thee, son William and William said: 'God be with you, good father, and be of good comfort, for I hope we shall meet again, when we shall be merry.' His father said: I hope so, William,' and so departed. So William went to the place where the stake stood, even according to his dream, whereas all things were very unready. Then 1 Archery butts. William took a wet broom fagot, and kneeled down thereon, and read the 51st psalm, till he came to these words: The sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.' Then said Master Tyrell of the Bratches, called William Tyrell: Thou liest,' said he; thou readest false, for the words are, an humble spirit." But William said: The translation saith "a contrite heart." 'Yea,' quoth Mr. Tyrell, the translation is false; ye translate books as ye list yourselves, like heretics.' 'Well,' quoth William, there is no great difference in those words.' Then said the sheriff: Here is a letter from the queen; if thou wilt recant, thou shalt live; if not, thou shalt be burned.' 'No,' quoth William, I will not recant, God willing.' Then Wiliam rose, aad went to the stake, and stood upright to it. Then came one Richard Pond, a bailiff, and made fast the chain about William. Then said Master Brown: Here is not wood enough to burn a leg of him.' Then said William: Good people, pray for me; and make speed, and despatch quickly; and pray for me while ye see me alive, good people, and I will pray for you likewise.' How quoth Master Brown, 'pray for thee? I will pray no more for thee than I will pray for a dog.' To whom William answered: Master Brown, now you have that which you sought for, and I pray God it be not laid to your charge in the last day; howbeit, I forgive you.' Then said Master Brown: 'I ask no forgiveness of thee.' Well,' said William, 'if God forgive you not, I shall require my blood at your hands.' Then said William: Son of God, shine upon me!' and immediately the sun in the element shone out of a dark cloud so full in his face that he was constrained to look another way; whereat the people mused, because it was so dark a little time afore. Then William took up a fagot of broom, and embraced it in his arms. Then this priest which William dreamed of came to his brother Robert with a popish book to carry to William, that he might recant; which book his brother would not meddle withal. Then William, seeing the priest, and perceiving how he would have shewed him the book, said: Away, thou false prophet! Beware of them, good people, and come away from their abominations, lest that you be partakers of their plagues.' Then quoth the priest: Look how thou burnest here so shalt thou burn in hell.' William answered: Thou liest, thou false prophet! Away, thou false prophet! away!' Then there was a gentleman which said: 'I pray God have mercy upon his soul.' The people said: "Amen, Amen.' Immediately fire was made. Then William cast his psalter right into his brother's hand, who said: William, think on the holy passion of Christ, and be not afraid of death.' And William answered: 'I am not afraid.' Then lift he up his hands to heaven, and said: 'Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my spirit!' And casting down his head again into the smothering smoke, he yielded up his life for the truth, sealing it with his blood to the praise of God. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY was born in 1554, at Penshurst, in Kent; and during his studies at Shrewsbury and Oxford, displayed remarkable acuteness of intellect and desire for knowledge. After spending three years on the continent, he returned to England in 1575, and was introduced to the court by his uncle, the Earl of Leicester. At the famous reception given by Leicester to the queen at Kenilworth, in the summer of that year, Sidney was present. In the year 1580, in consequence of a quarrel with the Earl of Oxford, he retired from the court to the seat of his brother-in-law, the Earl of Pembroke, at Wilton, and there composed a pastoral romance, to which, as it was written chiefly for his sister's amusement, he gave the title of 'The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia.' This production was never finished, and, not having been intended for the press, appeared only in 1590, four years after the author's death. A more complete |