be regarded and admired. To speak of you as the truth demands, I had need of the powers of Demosthenes or Cicero, for your merits require a space of time, readiness of powers, and ability of speech to set them forth, which a child cannot possess. For as it would appear, God has looked upon you with such complacency as to fit you for usefulness in this world, and for a place in his kingdom hereafter. In the prison of this life you pass your earthly course as dead to the world, even while you live. And you not only live first to Christ, without whom there can be no life, and afterwards to yourself, but you also live for many others, whom you earnestly endeavour, by the will of God, to lead on to that immortality, which you will attain when departed from this world. I will not cease to implore of almighty God, the author and giver of all good things, that your pious labours may be effectual. Nor will I cease to plead that you may be long continued in this life.

These things I have written to you with more boldness than prudence, but you have rendered me such service, by kindly writing to me when unknown to you, assisting me with what was needful to adorn my mind, and to improve my judgment, that I should be justly chargeable with neglect, and forgetful of my duty, if I did not, in every way, show myself mindful of your worth.

Moreover, I hope that you will pardon this my unfeminine boldness, who, though a young girl, thus address a man, and, although ignorant, presume to write to one so learned. Forgive also my rashness in thus disturbing you with my trifles, frivolities, and childish scribbling, while engaged in matters of importance,-which pardon, if I obtain, I shall consider myself deeply indebted to your goodness. But if I have offended in this matter, it is to be ascribed to my regard for you rather than to that forwardness which never should be manifested by our sex, or to that rashness which contends against better judgment. For when I read your works, or think of you, my perception is so overcome by your attainments that I do not so much consider what is suitable to myself as what is due to you.

My mind is indeed involved in many hesitations when I consider my youth, my sex, and scanty measure of learning, or rather my imbecility, each of which alone, and much more when considered together, would deter me from writing. But, on the other hand, when I contemplate

your virtues, your celebrity, and the kindness you have shown towards me, the higher consideration yields to the inferior-namely, what is becoming from me towards you; and what is due to you, prevails above every other consideration.

Be pleased to salute in my name that illustrious and learned man, Bibliander, so much signalized for erudition and piety, although he is a stranger to me. For I hear in

our country such a report of his learning, and understand that his name is so noted every where for the singular gifts bestowed upon him by God, that, although I have attained but little knowledge, I am compelled to admire the piety and sincerity of this divinely commissioned man. And I pray that such pillars of the church may long prosper and be continued. I shall not cease my best wishes for you, thanking you for the kindness shown to me, and offering my fervent desires for your welfare so long as my life shall be spared.

From Lady Jane Grey to Queen Mary.

(Written in August, 1553.*)

My fault is so great, that but for the goodness and

This letter is printed by Pollini, in his "Ecclesiastical history of the English revolution," written in Italian, and printed at Rome in 1594. He states that the lady Jane was compelled by her relations to assume the crown, as she explained in a letter written to queen Mary in August, 1553, a copy of which had come to his hands by means of a person worthy of credit, who at that time procured a copy of it in London. He does not mention in what language the letter was written, but it seems from internal evidence to have been written in Italian, in which language both lady Jane and queen Mary were well skilled; it therefore appears here under the disadvantage of a translation. The Rev. H. Soames, who has printed the greater part of the letter in Italian, observes, that "The student of English history is much obliged to Pollini for the preservation of this interesting letter, which bears every mark of genuineness. In general, however, Pollini's work is worthless."

It is a valuable document, the contents are supported by other testimonies. It is inserted here as a strong proof, if any were wanting, that the brief pageant of lady Jane Grey was entirely a political device of Northumberland and his adherents, and that it was not planned or carried into effect by the real leaders of the Reformation, Cranmer and his associates, who are not even mentioned by the unhappy victim of ambition.

clemency of the queen, I could have no hope in asking forgiveness, nor that I should find pardon. For I have given ear to those who at that time appeared to be wise, not only to me, but also to a great part of this realm; but they have made known the contrary, as at present is seen, not only to my great hurt and to their own, but by the common disgrace and blame of all men-they having with such shameful boldness made so dishonourable an attempt to give to another what was not their own to bestow, neither did it become me to accept; rightly and justly then do I blush and am ashamed, while I ask pardon for such a crime. Nevertheless I trust in God, that as at this time I know and confess my lack of wisdom, for which I deserve heavy punishment, unless the great mercy of your highness prevent, so likewise, from many tokens I have hope of your great clemency, knowing that the error charged upon me was not wholly my own. My crime is great, and I confess it to be so, nevertheless, I am accounted more guilty than in truth I am. For although I took upon me that of which I was unworthy, yet no one can say that I ever sought to obtain it for myself, nor ever solaced myself therein, nor accepted of it willingly.

For when it was publicly reported that there was no longer any hope of the king's life, as the duchess of Northumberland before had promised that I should remain in the house with my mother, so having soon after learned this from her husband who first told it to me, she was no longer willing that I should leave my house, saying that if God willed to call the king to his mercy, and there was at that time no hope of his life, it would be needful for me to go immediately to the Tower, since his majesty had made me heir of his kingdom. Which being thus suddenly told unto me, I was greatly moved; it disturbed my mind, and after some time it oppressed me still more.

But notwithstanding, I gave little heed to these words, and did not delay going from my mother. So that the duchess of Northumberland was much displeased with me and with the duchess my mother, saying that if she had resolved to keep me in the house, she had also kept her son, with whom she thought I would assuredly have gone. She continued to be much displeased with me. In truth I remained in her house two or three nights, but at length obtained leave to go to Chelsea for my recreation. While there, shortly after, although unwell, I was summoned by

the council, who gave me to understand that I must go the same night to Sion, to receive that which had been ordered respecting me by the king.

The person by whom this news was brought unto me was the lady Sidney, my sister-in-law, daughter of the duchess of Northumberland; she told me with seriousness more than common, that it was needful I should go with her, and I did so. When we arrived, we found no one; but shortly after, there came the duke of Northumberland, the marquess of Northampton, the earls of Arundel, Huntingdon, and Pembroke, who, with unaccustomed kindness and condescension, did me such reverence as was not fitting to my state, for they knelt before me, and in many other ways made semblance to honour me. They also acknowledged me as their sovereign mistress, so that they caused me extreme confusion. After a time they brought to me the duchess Frances my mother, the duchess of Northumberland, and the marchioness of Northampton. The duke of Northumberland, as president of the council, then made known the death of king Edward, showing what cause we had to rejoice for his virtuous and praiseworthy life, and also for his joyful departure. He furthermore took comfort to himself, and to all present, by praising much the goodness and wisdom of his late highness, for the great care he had manifested in the last hours of his life touching his kingdom, having prayed to God to defend it from the popish faith, and to deliver it from the rule of his evil sisters. He then said that his majesty had well weighed an act of parliament, wherein it was formerly enacted* that whosoever should acknowledge the lady Mary, that is, your highness, or the lady Elizabeth, and take them for rightful heirs to the crown of England, should be held for traitors, one of them having formerly been disobedient to her father Henry the eighth, and to himself, touching the truth of religion, and declared enemies of the word of God; also that both were illegitimate. Wherefore in no manner would he that they should be heirs of his crown, he being able in every way to disinherit

*Northumberland referred to an act passed in 1536, whereby both Mary and Elizabeth were declared illegitimate, and unable to succeed to the crown. This act had not been repealed, although in fact it was set aside by the act passed just before the death of Henry VIII., declaring that the succession should devolve upon those princesses in case Edward had no children. The reasons here assigned are in substance contained in the proclamation issued by lady Jane's supporters.

them. He therefore before his death gave charge to his council, that for the duty they owed unto him, for the love they bare to the realm, and for the affection they ought to have for their country, they should obey this his last will. The duke also said, that I was the heir named by his majesty to succeed to the crown, and that my sisters should in like manner succeed me, if I died without issue.

Hearing these words, all the lords of the council kneeled before me, saying that they rendered the honour due to me, I being heir to the crown, of true and direct lineage; and that it became them in every way to observe what they had deliberately promised to the king, to shed their own blood freely, and to offer their own lives to death in this cause. The which things I heard with extreme grief of mind; how I was carried out of myself, amazed, and troubled, I leave it to those lords to testify who were present, and saw me, overcome by sudden and unlooked for sorrow, fall to the ground weeping very bitterly. I then declared to them how unable I was; I deeply lamented the death of so noble a prince, and turning myself to God, I humbly prayed and besought him that if what had been given me was mine by law aud right, his divine Majesty would grant me such grace and spirit that I should govern to his glory and service, and to the good of this realm.

On the next day, as is known to every one, I was conducted to the Tower. Shortly after the lord treasurer, the marquess of Winchester, presented to me the jewels, with them he brought the crown, although neither by me nor by any one in my name had this been asked.* He further

willed me to put the crown upon my head, that it might be seen whether it became me or not. The which with many excuses I refused to do, nevertheless he told me that I should take it to me without fear, and that another would be made to crown my husband with me. This was heard by me with a troubled mind, also with much grief

In the Harleian Coll. No. 611, is an order from queen Mary to the marquess of Winchester, who was still lord treasurer, dated 20th September, referring to "certain our jewels and stuff" delivered to him on the 20th July by lady Jane Grey, "which she before had received of you the 12th of the same month." It appears that some articles were missing, and he is commanded to use diligence for their recovery. The list is curious; among the missing articles are "a little piece of a broken ring of gold;""three French crowns, one of them broken;" "four old half-pence of silver;" "sixteen pence, two farthings, and two half-pence;" ."" 66 a pair of knives;" "two shaving cloths;" "fourteen pair of gloves of divers sorts.'