only for a moment; and they would soon rejoin each other in a scene where their affections would be for ever united, and where death, disappointments, and misfortunes, could no longer have access to them, or disturb their eternal felicity.

It had been intended to execute the Lady Jane and her husband on the same scaffold, at Towerhill: but the council dreading the compassion of the people for their youth, beauty, innocence, and noble birth, changed their orders, and gave directions that they should be beheaded within the verge of the Tower. She saw her husband led to execution; and having given him from the window some token of her remembrance, waited with tranquillity till her own appointed hour should bring her to a like fate. She even saw his headless body carried back in a cart; and found herself more confirmed by the reports which she heard of the constancy of his end, than shaken by so tender and melancholy a spectacle.

Sir John Gage, constable of the Tower, when he led her to execution, desired her to bestow on him some small present, which he might keep as a perpetual memorial of her. She gave him her tablebook, on which she had just written three sentences, on seeing her husband's dead body; one in Greek, another in Latin, a third in English. The purport of them was, that human justice was against his body, but that Divine Mercy would be favor. able to his soul; that if her fault deserved punish

ment, her youth, at least, and her imprudence, were worthy of excuse; and that God and posterity, she trusted, would show her favor.

On the scaffold, she made a speech to the bystanders, in which the mildness of her disposition led her to take the blame entirely on herself, without uttering one complaint against the severity with which she had been treated. She said, that her offence was, not that she had laid her hand upon the crown, but that she had not rejected it with sufficient constancy: that she had erred less through ambition, than through reverence to her parents, whom she had been taught to respect and obey: that she willingly received death, as the only satis faction which she could now make to the injured state: and though her infringement of the laws had been constrained, she would show, by her voluntary submission to their sentence, that she was desirous to atone for that disobedience, into which too much filial piety had betrayed her: that she had justly deserved this punishment, for being made the instrument, though the unwilling instrument, of the ambition of others: and that the story of her life, she hoped, might at least be useful, by proving that innocence of intention excuses not actions that any way tend to the destruction of the commonwealth.

After uttering these words, she caused herself to be disrobed by her women; and with a steady, serene countenance, submitted herself to the executioner.

We shall conclude the account of this virtuous and excellent young person, with a few remarks respecting her, made by bishop Burnet: "She read,” says he, “the Scriptures much, and had attained great knowledge of religious subjects. But with all her advantages of birth and parts, she was so humble, so gentle and pious, that all people both admired and loved her. She had a mind wonderfully raised above the world; and at the age, when others are but imbibing the notions of philosophy, she had attained the practice of the highest precepts of it.

"She was neither lifted up with the hope of a crown, nor cast down, when she saw her palace made afterwards her prison; but maintained an equal temper of mind in those great inequalities of fortune, that so suddenly exalted and depressed her. All the passion which she expressed, was that which is of the noblest sort, and which is the indication of tender and generous natures, being much affected with the troubles which her husband and father suffered on her account. She rejoiced at her approaching end, since nothing could be to her more welcome, than to pass from this valley of misery, to that heavenly throne to which she was to be advanced."

SECTION IX.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, an illustrious Englishman, of an ancient family in Devonshire, was born in 1552. He was a man of admirable parts, extensive knowledge, undaunted resolution, and strict honor and honesty. As a soldier, a statesman, and a scholar, he was greatly distinguished; and was eminently useful to Queen Elizabeth, who protected and encouraged him in the various enterprises which he projected. He was the discoverer of Virginia; and took effectual measures for the settlement of the country, and for promoting its prosperity.

His active enterprises against the Spaniards, both in Europe and South America, excited the particular enmity of the court of Spain, which used every means to effect his destruction. During the reign of Elizabeth, these machinations were fruitless; but on the accession of James I., Sir Walter lost his interest at court, was stripped of his employments, and unjustly accused and condemned for a plot against the king.

He was afterwards trusted by James with a com

mission of considerable importance; and thus virtually pardoned for all supposed offences. The malice of his enemies, however, at length prevailed against him; and he was pusillanimously sacrificed to appease the Spaniards, who, whilst Raleigh lived, thought every part of their dominions in danger.

He was executed in Old Palace Yard, in the 66th year of his age. His behaviour on the scaf fold was manly, unaffected, and even cheerful. Being asked by the executioner which way he would lay his head, he answered:-" So the heart be right, it is no matter which way the head lies."

During his imprisonment, and with the prospect of death before him, he wrote the following letters to his son, and to his wife. They contain many solemn and affecting admonitions: and testify the influence of religion on his mind.

In the letter to his son, he says: "My son, let my experienced advice, and fatherly instructions, sink deep into thy heart. Seek not riches basely, nor attain them by evil means. Destroy no man for his wealth, nor take any thing from the poor; for the cry thereof will pierce the heavens: and it is most detestable before God, and most dishonorable before worthy men, to wrest any thing from the needy and laboring soul. God will never prosper thee, if thou offendest therein. Use thy poor neighbors and tenants well. Have compassion on the poor and afflicted, and God will bless thee for