EARL OF SHAFTESBURY.

The author of the Characteristics, when Lord Ashley, and soon after he had taken his seat in the House of Commons, rose to speak in support of the act "for granting counsel to prisoners in cases of high treason," but found himself so embarrassed, that he was unable to express his sentiments. The house cheered him, and, recovering from his confusion, he very happily converted the difficulty and embarrassment of his own situation in favour of the bill. If I, sir," said he, addressing the speaker, "if I, who rise only to offer my opinion on the bill now depending, am so confounded that I am unable to express the least of what I intended to say, what must the condition of that man be, who, without any assistance, is pleading for his life?"

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ROYAL COMMISSIONER.

A singular specimen of parliamentary eloquence, at a very early period of English history, is furnished in the speech of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the House of Peers, in 1377, the first year of the reign of Richard II., who ascended the throne at the age of eleven years. The cause of the summons was declared by the archbishop in a speech beginning with this text, rex tuus venit tibi; which subject he divided into three parts, saying, "That for three causes every friend ought to be welcome to another: first, if he came to rejoice or be merry with his friend for any singular benefit or good, hap that had befallen him; and, therefore, made use of this odd

expression, for a male friend; et exultavit infans in utero ejus. The next was, if the said friend came to comfort another in adversity, as is mentioned in the book of Job. And the last, for trying his friend in the time of adversity, according to the scripture, in necessitate probabiter amicus." To this preface he applied, "That the king, their undoubted liege lord, was now come unto them, not for one, but for all the three causes. For the first, to rejoice with them in the great providence and grace of God, by sending his person amongst them; not by any collateral means, or election, but by special descent of inheritance; and for their good wills towards him, he was, therefore, come to give them thanks. For the second, to visit and comfort them in their necessities and adversities he was also come, not only for the death of the noble King Edward, and the prince, his son, but also for the great losses which they had sustained on the sea coasts, and elsewhere, within the realm, by their enemies, whereunto he was now come, not only to proffer himself in aid, but to confirm all their liberties; to maintain the laws and peace of the kingdom; and to redress all that was to the contrary. Thirdly, to try or assay them, he was also come to advise and counsel with them for suppressing the enemy; and to require an aid of them, without which they could not perform the same. For all which reasons, he desires them to consult together."

BISHOP MERKS.

When Richard II. had been deposed by the usurpation of Henry of Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV.

the House of Peers decreed, that he should be "put under a safe and secret guard, and in such a place, where no concourse of people might resort to him." The only man, either in the clergy or laity, that had the courage to oppose this usurpation at the time, was Thomas Merks, Bishop of Carlisle. Sir Walter Raleigh, in speaking of this prelate, says, that "he was the only honest man in this parliament, who scorned his life and fortune, in respect to his sovereign's right and his own allegiance." This prelate suffered dearly for his integrity; for he was instantly deprived of his dignity, and suffered long imprisonment; and had it not been for his order, which was then held inviolable, he would have died the death of a traitor. The following are some of the most remarkable passages of this eloquent speech.

"But, alas! good King Richard, why such cruelty? What such impiety hath he ever committed? Examine rightly those imputations which are laid against him, without any false circumstance of aggravation, and you shall find nothing objected, either of any truth or of great moment. It may be that many errors and oversights have escaped him, yet none so grievous to be termed tyranny; as proceeding rather from unexperienced ignorance, or corrupt counsel, than from any natural or wilful malice. Oh! how shall the world be pestered with tyrants, if subjects may rebel upon every pretence of tyranny? How many good princes shall daily be suppressed by those whom they ought to be supported? If they levy a subsidy, or any other taxation, it shall be claimed oppression; if they put any to death for traiterous attempts against their persons, it shall be exclaimed cruelty; if they

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do any thing against the lust and liking of the people, it shall be proclaimed tyranny." He concluded by declaring, that the duke whom they called king, had more offended against the king and the realm than Richard had done; and conjured the house, that “if this injury and this perjury doth nothing more as yet, let both our private and common dangers somewhat withdraw us from these violent proceedings."

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

When England was threatened with invasion by the "invincible armada" of Spain, and a camp was formed at Tilbury, of twenty-three thousand men, to protect the capital, on this memorable and momentous occasion, Queen Elizabeth resolved to visit in person the camp, for the purpose of encouraging her troops. Like a second Boadicea, armed for defence against the invader of her country, she appeared at once the warrior and the queen; the sacred feelings of the moment, superior to all the artifices of royal dignity and the tricks of royal condescension, inspired her with that impressive earnestness of look, of words, of gesture, which alone is truly dignified and truly eloquent.

Mounted on a noble charger, with a general's truncheon in her hand, a corslet of polished steel laced on over her magnificent apparel, and a page in attendance bearing her white plumed helmet, she rode, bare-headed, from rank to rank, with a courageous deportment and smiling countenance; and amid the affectionate plaudits and shouts of military ardour which burst from the animated and admiring soldiery,

she addressed them in the following short but spirited harangue.

"My loving people, I have been persuaded by some that are careful of my safety to take heed how I committed myself to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery. But I tell you, that I would not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear; I have so behaved myself, that under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. Wherefore I am come among you at this time, but for my recreation and pleasure, being resolved, in the midst and heart of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, mine honour and my blood even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too; and take foul scorn that Parma, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm. To the which, rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will venture my royal blood. I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of your virtue in the field. I know that already for your forwardness you have deserved reward, and crowns; and I assure you, on the word of a prince, you shall not fail of them. In the mean time, my lieutenant-general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting, but by your concord in the camp and valour in the field, and your obedience to myself and my general, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God and of my kingdom."