her husband, Lord Guilford, almost five months in the Tower, waiting her pleasure, which was at last made known in speedy death.

The pious and christian lady heard her sentence with composure, for she had a home in the heavens, and a present Saviour to conduct her thither. A dark valley indeed-a swelling stream, lay between her and the bright fields of the better land, but faith quickly traversed these, and she saw how the hand of her enemies would hasten her departure, with emotions not unmingled with pleasure.

Two days before her death, a messenger was sent to her from the queen, to converse with her, and endeavor to turn her from the doctrine of Christ and the reformation, to the religion of popery.

"Madam," said he, as he came into her presence, "I lament your heavy case, and yet I doubt not you bear this sorrow of yours with a constant and patient mind."

"Welcome," said the christian lady, "if you come to give pious exhortation. As for my heavy case, I thank God, I little lament it, but rather account it a more manifest declaration of God's favor toward me, than ever he showed me before. Therefore there is no reason why you, or others which bear me no good will, should lament or be grieved, this being a thing so profitable for my soul's health."

A long conversation followed, in which the Lady Jane boldly avowed her christian opinions, and faith in Divine revelation.

Her visitor finally left her, saying, "I am sorry for you, for I am sure we two shall never meet again."

"True," said she, "we never shall unless God turn your heart, for I am assured that without a change it can never be."

As the state of her mind, the constancy and ardor of her faith, is particularly manifest in her letters written a short time previous to her death, we give a few extracts.

The first written to her father, who seemed disposed to favor Catholic views for sinister purposes, shows how she regarded death in a good cause; preferring it far above life employed against the truth.

"Although," said she, "it hath pleased God to hasten my death by you, by whom my life should rather have been lengthened, yet I can so praise God, as to yield him more hearty thanks, for shortening my woful days, than if all the world had been given unto my possession, with life lengthened at my own will. Though I am well assured of your impatient griefs, redoubled manifold ways, both in bewailing your own state and mine, yet my dear father, it seems in this I may count myself blessed, that washing my hands in innocency, my guiltless blood may cry before the Lord, Mercy to the innocent.'

Though I must needs acknowledge, that being constrained, in taking upon me I seemed to consent, and therein grievously offended the queen and her laws, yet do I assuredly trust, that this my offense toward God is so much the less, in that being in royal estate, mine enforced honor never blended with mine innocent heart.

"It may perhaps seem woful to you, that my death is so near at hand, but to me nothing can be more welcome, than from this vale of misery, to aspire to that heavenly throne of joy and pleasure with Christ my Saviour.

"In this steadfast faith God grant that we may continue till we may meet at last in heaven."

She afterward wrote a long letter to her father's chaplain, who had fallen from the truth of God's holy word, discovering a heart jealous for the cause of heaven, and in no wise absorbed with her own approaching doom.

"So oft," said she, "as I call to mind the dreadful and fearful saying, 'That he which layeth hold upon the plow, and looketh back, is not meet for the kingdom of heaven,' and, on the other side, the comforting words of Christ to those who forsake all for Him, I marvel at thee, and so lament thy case, that I am constrained to speak.

"If the terrible and thundering threatenings of Scripture can not stir thee to cleave unto Christ and his word, yet let its sweet consolations and promises, the example of the Saviour and his apostles, holy martyrs and confessors, encourage thee to take firmer hold on the Infinite.

"Be not ashamed to come home again with Mary, and weep bitterly with Peter, not only shedding the tears of your bodily eyes, but also pouring out the streams of your heart, to wash away out of the sight of God, the sin of your offensive fall.

"Be not ashamed to say with the publican, Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.'

"Last of all, let the lively remembrance of the last day be always before your eyes, remembering the terror that shall be in those who denied Christ, setting more by the world than by heaven; more by their life, than by him who gave them life, and, on the contrary, the inestimable joys prepared for them that fear no peril, nor dreading death, have manfully sought, and victoriously triumphed over all the powers of darkness, over death and hell, through the Captain of their salvation, who now stretcheth out his arms to receive you, ready to fall upon your neck and embrace you, and to feast you with the dainties of his own precious blood; which, undoubtedly, if it might stand with his determinate purpose, he would not scruple to shed again, rather than that you should be lost."

"Be constant, be constant and fear not for pain,

Christ hath redeemed thee, and heaven is thy gain."

We give only one more, and that one written the night before her execution, to her sister Catharine, which attended a copy of the New Testament she presented to her.

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"I have here sent you a book," she says, "which, although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet within is worth more than precious stones. It is the book, dear sister, of the law of the Lord. It is his testament and last will, which he bequeathed unto us; which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy to an immortal and everlasting life, if you observe it with an earnest heart and holy purpose.

"It shall teach you to live, and learn you to die. It shall win you more than you would have gained by the possession of all your father's lands.

"If God had prospered him, these you would have inherited, but if you apply yourself diligently to this book, seeking

to direct your life by it, you shall be an inheritor of such riches, as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you, neither thief steal, or moth corrupt.

"Desire with David, dear sister, to understand the law of the Lord. Live still to die, that you may by death purchase eternal life.

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Defy the world, despise the flesh, and delight yourself only in God. Rejoice in him, as I do. Follow the steps of your Master, and take up your cross, and as touching my death, rejoice with me, that I am to be delivered of this corruption, and put on incorruption. I am assured, that I shall, for losing a mortal life, gain an immortal one, the which I pray God to grant you, and send you his grace, to live in his fear, and to die in the true christian faith, from the which I exhort you, that you never swerve, neither for hope of life or fear of death. If you cleave unto Him, He will prolong your days to His glory and your comfort; to which glory God brings me now, and you hereafter, when it pleaseth Him to call you. Farewell, good sister, put your trust in God, who only can help you.'

Thus, as it were, her last breath was spent in exhorting others to remain true to the doctrines of the gospel.

The next day she was to mount the scaffold, and bow her head to the stroke of the executioner, but her frail nature was buoyed up by the everlasting arms, and in their circling power she was well satisfied.

As she stood before the multitude who assembled around her, she said, "Good people, I am come hither to die, being condemned by law to the same. The fact against the queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me; but touching the desire, or procurement thereof, by me, or on my behalf, I do wash my hands in innocency before God, and the face of you, christian people, this day.

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"I pray you to bear me witness that I die a true christian woman, and that I look to be saved by no other means, than by the mercy of God in Christ.”

She then made the requisite preparations for her person, committed her soul to Christ, and laid her head upon the

block, and so finished her life on the 12th of February, in the year 1554, at 17 years of age.

Thus in the spring-time of life-the very bloom of youth, she closed her eyes upon this world to receive a martyr's crown above.

It is a singular circumstance related of the judge who condemned her, that soon after, he was deranged, and in his delirium cried out continually to have the Lady Jane taken from him. So bitterly did conscience reproach him for causing the death of the innocent, that it ended his days, shortening them in despair.

The memory of this noble lady, has ever been cherished with pious admiration, and will continue to be while there are any to revere the christian name, and magnify the grace of God.

CHAPTER XXXI.

Jerome, of Prague.

MEETS WITH THE WORKS OF WICKLIFFE AND ESPOUSES HIS DOCTRINE; IS CALLED BEFORE THE COUNCIL; GOES TO THE STAKE

WITH CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE.

EROME, of Prague, who was the companion of Huss, and may be said to be co-martyr with him, was born at Prague, and educated in that university, where he particularly distinguished himself

for his great abilities and learning. He also visited several other learned seminaries in Europe, particularly the universities of Paris, Heidelberg, Cologne, and Oxford. At the latter place he became acquainted with the works of Wickliffe, and being a person of uncommon application, he translated many of them into his native language, having with great pains, made himself master of the English tongue.

On his return to Prague, he professed himself a strong admirer of Wickliffe, and finding that his doctrines had made