"Felix, there is an idea that haunts me-it is too horrible to be entertained for a moment, but still it besets methat I have brought my poor father to this. Were it not for thee, my orphan boy!" she added, holding Marmaduke at arms length, and gazing on him with tearful affection-" were it not for thee, I should account the hour that I fled with thy sire the most miserable as well as most sinful of my life!" Shortly after this, they quitted the desolate garden of the Abenhalls, and returned to Pype, where Magdalene immediately repaired to her mother's cabinet. It was well for her widowed daughter in this agonized state, that the Lady Stanley had so long been inured to suffering, that the dreadful event now pending only added a gentle step to that decline which had long been undermining her life. She was like the tree, that, while its trunk weakens and decays every hour, still continues year after year to put forth leaves and blossoms, till the last fibre that held it to the earth is softly unstrung. In a few days Redmayne set forth for Stafford, to pray from Sir Humphrey, who was there imprisoned, his consent to a last interview with his wife and daughter. The die was now cast ;Stanley had peremptorily refused to plead, and the barbarous sentence inflicted on such recusants had thrilled in his unshrinking ears. Felix had never seen his former master since that fatal Christmas Day, and his manly heart was overcome by the fortitude and gentleness, of the once terrible Sir Humphrey. The knight dwelt with great calmness on all the particulars of his impending punishment, and requested Felix to be with him in that dreadful hour. But with the most affectionate messages to his wife, and blessings to his daughter, he entreated them, for his sake, to forbear a further interview. His cruel sentence was to be executed at noon the following day, and Felix promised to be with his master. That promise he faithfully performed. When he left Pype Hall on the fatal morning, the Lady Stanley and her daughter were preparing to pass the day and night in the chapel in penance, prayer and fasting. When he arrived at the prison-gate of Stafford, he was informed that Sir Humphrey, attended by the priest and the executioners, had already descended to the Press-Room, and thither, with a sickening heart, Redmayne repaired. As he descended the numerous steps, which left day-light far behind, the murmur of earnest prayer burst upon his ears; but it had died away ere, finishing his toilsome descent, he found himself in a low, narrow room, whose floor of earth, without pavement or straw, reeked with damp, and where the only light was the smoky glare of torches that seemed half-strangled in the unwholesome dungeon. The first object that met his eye was the athletic figure of Stanley, stript naked, except a pair of linen drawers that reached to about the middle of his thighs. Near the culprit were two savage-looking men, who were rearing against the wall a broad, massy board, cramped with iron, and iron weights of various sizes were piled around. The knightly criminal himself might, but for his bared body, have been taken for an unconcerned spectator; and, unclothed as he was, the quiet courage in his eye, the colour on his cheek, and his noble yet modest mien, might have resembled him to a Grecian wrestler, or a Dacian gladiator, whose sinews, in a state of grand repose, were soon to swell into terrible action, instead of being stretched out passive subjects of a lingering and unresisted torment. He clasped the hand of Redmayne with great warmth Now, Felix," he said, "I trust you have forgiven me! I once caused and beheld your sufferings. At least you will witness for me that I know how to suffer as manfully as yourself! Ithank the saints my heart is penitent, and I trust that my humble prayers will be accepted. The torment I am about to suffer will make to my wife and children the only reparation in my power, since it will secure to them the inheritance they never deserved to forfeit." Then turning to the executioners, he said "I trust I may be allowed the sharp timber under my back, to shorten my pain?” He was informed that in his case it had been specially prohibited. "Well, it will be but a few struggles more. Redmayne, I am glad thou art come, for I have resolved in no wise to assist in this execution, lest I be guilty of self-murder, and I would not have these fellows touch my body; lay me down, Felix, and, with this holy father, pray for me till my soul flies from her tortured mansion." With a trembling hand, and eyes that swam with tears, Felix took his naked master in his arms, and laid him along the ground. The executioners then approached; thick ropes were fastened around his wrists and ancles, stretching at full length his arms and legs to the four corners of the dungeon, where the cords were fastened to huge iron rings. A napkin was then laid upon the criminal's face-the board was heaved upon his body -the weights were heaped over it,-gasps and groans filled the uncouth dungeon with sounds of horror-But we must drop the curtain over the writhing agonies of the dying and penitent Homicide. "A fact of wondrous note happened at Perinin (Penryn) in Cornwall, in Sept. 1622; a bloody and unexampled murther, by a father and mother upon their own son, and then upon themselves. He had been blessed with ample possessions and fruitful issue, unhappy only in a younger son, who taking liberty from his father's bounty, and with a crew of like condition that were weary on land, they went roving to sea; and in a small vessel southward, took booty from all whom they could master, and so increasing in force and wealth, ventured on a Turk's man in the Streights, but by mischance their own powder fired themselves, and our gallant, trusting to his skilful swimming, got ashore upon Rhodes with the best of his jewels about him, where offering some for sale to a Jew who knew them to be the governor's of Algiers, he was apprehended, and as a pirate, sentenced to the gallies amongst other Christians, whose miserable slavery made them all studious of freedom, and with wit and valour took opportunity and means to murther some officers, get aboard of an English ship, and came safe to London, where his Majesty and some skill made him servant to a Chyrurgion, and sudden pre ferment to the East Indies, there by this means he got money, with which returning back, he designed himself for his native county, Cornwall; and in a small ship from London, sailing to the west, was cast away upon the coast, but his excellent skill in swimming, and former fate to boot, brought him safe to shore; where since his fifteen years absence, his father's fortunes much decayed, now retired him not far off to a country habitation in debt and danger. His sister he finds married to a mercer, a meaner match than her birth promised, to her he at first appears a poor stranger, but in private reveals himself, and withal what jewels and gold he had concealed in a bow case about him, and concluded that the next day he intended to appear to his parents, and to keep his disguise till she and her husband should meet and make their common joy complete. Being come to his parents, his humble behaviour, suitable to his suit of clothes, melted the old couple to so much compassion, as to give him covering from the cold season, under their outward roof; and by degrees his travelling tales told with passion to the aged people, made him their guest so long by the kitchen fire, that the husband took leave and went to bed, and soon after his true stories working compassion in the weaker vessel, she wept and so did he, but compassionate of her tears, he comforted her with a piece of gold, which gave assurance that he deserved a lodging, to which she brought him, and being in bed shewed her his girdled wealth, which he said was sufficient to relieve her husband's wants, and to spare for himself; and being very weary, fell fast asleep. "The wife tempted with the golden bait of what she had, and eager of enjoying all, awaked her husband with this news, and her contrivance what to do; and though with horrid apprehensions he oft refused, yet her feeling fondness, (Eve's enchantments) moved him to consent, and rise to be master of all, and both of them to murder the man, which instantly they did, covering the corps under the clothes till opportunity served to convey it out of the way. "The early morning hastens the sister to her father's house, where she with signs of joy enquires for a saylor that should lodge there the last night; the parents slightly denied to have seen any such, until she told them it was her brother, her lost brother, by that assured scar upon his arm, cut with a sword in his youth, she knew him, and were all resolved this morning to meet there and be merry. The father hastily runs up, finds the mark, and with horrid regret of this monstrous murther of his own son, with the same knife cut his own throat; the wife went up to consult with him, where in a most strange manner beholding them both in blood, wild and agast, with the instrument at hand readily thrust it into her body and slew herself. The daughter doubting the delay of their absence, searches for them all, whom she found out too soon, with the sad sight of this scene, and being overcome with horror and amaze of this deluge of destruction, she sank down and died, the fatal end of this family. "The truth of which was frequently known, and flew to court in this guise, but the imprinted relation conceals their names in favour to some neighbour of respect, and akin to that family. The same sense makes me silent also." Illustrations of History. NEW YEAR'S GIFTS IN DAYS OF YORE, In the year 1756, Dr. Miller, then Dean of Exeter, afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, laid before the Society of Antiquaries a large parchment roll, containing a list of New Year's Gifts, presented to Queen Elizabeth on the 1st of January, 1584-5, signed by the Queen and countersigned by John Astley, Esq. master and treasurer of the jewels. By this it appeared, that the greater part, if not all, of the peers and peeresses of the realm, all the bishops, the chief officers of state and several of the Queen's household servants, from her apothecary, even down to her mastercook and sergeant of the pastry, gave New Year's Gifts to her majesty. Their enumeration was extremely curious. It amounted to a complete omnium gatherum of good things, not excepting money, which indeed, was the most general gift. The Archbishop of Canterbury gave 401. the other bishops 301. 201. or 101. The largest sum given by any of the temporal lords was 201. Most of the peeresses gave rich gowns, petticoats, kirtles, doublets, or mantles, some embroidered with pearls and garnets; others gave bracelets, caskets studded with precious stones, or toys. Several of the peers made similar gifts. TheQueen's physician presented her with a box of foreign sweetmeats; another with two pots, one of green ginger, one of orange flowers. Her apothecary gave a box of lozenges and a pot of conserves: her master cook a "fayre marchepayne" (a sort of large macaroon) her sergeant of the pastry a "fayre pye oringed." The sum total of the The money amounted to £827 4s. other articles were not valued. On the back of the roll was indorsed a list of the New Year's Gifts, presented by the Queen in return, the whole consisting of gilt plate:-The Earl of Leicester had 132 ounces. The Earl of Warwick 106. The other earls 30 or 20. The Duchess of Somerset, the only Duchess, 25 ounces; the other prelates, 35, 30, 20, or 15. The Baronesses had from 15 to 52 ounces. To Sir Christopher Hatton, then Vice Chamberlain, she gave 400 ounces; to all the maids of honour and the gentlemen of her household, from two to twenty ounces; to Mrs. Thompson, the dwarf, two ounces! to the physicians thirteen ounces each, the apothecary seven, the cook and serjeant of the pastry, five cunces each. The same roll contains a list of gifts, made by the Queen at Christenings and Weddings. At the christening of the Earl of Cumberland's child, 140 ounces; of Mr. Southwell's child, 43 ounces; of And at the marLord Talbot's, 27 oz. riage of Sir Henry Nevill's son with Mr. Henry Killigrew's daughter, she gave a gilt cup with a cover, weighing 26 oz. FASHION AND FLATTERY. Alexander the Great had an imperfection in his neck, that obliged him to carry it more of one side than the other; which, though an inconsiderable thing, was so exactly imitated by all his great officers, that his whole court could not shew a man without a wry neck. At least, so says Lipsius; and Montaigne, in his Essays, tells us that Dionysius's flatterers run one against another in his presence, stumbled at, and overturned whatever was under foot, to shew they were as blind as their sovereign. Henry the Eight of England, in the year 1521, took it into his head to have his hair cut short, and all the courtiers followed in the same fashion, although for a long time previous it had been customary to wear the hair very long. The wife of James the First is said to have introduced the wearing of ruffs, from the circumstance of her adopting one to cover a wen in her neck. Custams of Various Countries. places appropriated to this day. TWELFTH DAY. The name of this ancient holiday has been accounted for satisfactorily by many historians, more especially by Collier, who, in his Ecclesiastical History, informs us that "In the days of King Alfred a law was made with relation to holidays, by virtue of which the twelve days after the Nativity of our Saviour were made Festivals." In the academies of Germany, one of the students is chosen king, and a magnificent entertainment provided for him. This is evidently borrowed from the Roman Saturnalia, when the masters gave entertainments to their servants, and waited upon them. This was formerly practised in our Universities, but is now laid aside. As Christmas is generally understood to terminate on this day, it is commonly celebrated with more festivity among those who are attached to Christmas cheer. In the calendars of the Romish church against this day you often find it written:"Reges fabis creantur." In the twelfthcake was a bean, and in the division of it, he whose portion the bean was, was saluted as king. Formerly each mistress of a family made the cake herself; it was necessary that it should be comHector Boethius relates that "King posed of flour, honey, ginger and pepArthur kept with his nobles at York per; whilst she was kneading it, she a very prophane Christmas for thirteen was to put a piece of money into it.days together, including Christmas- The cake was divided into as many day, and that such jollity and feasting then had its original from him." That our crowned heads were zealous in these pastimes, may be collected from innumerable instances upon record, and probably thence was derived the ceremony of choosing King and Queen, for our monarchs themselves went disguised to the houses of their courtiers; and their nobles in return frequently visited the palace in masquerade on the same occasion. Fabian, in his Chronicle, relates the following facts which took place in the time of Henry IV. He says that "the Dukes of Aumarle, of Surrey, and of Exeter, with the Earles of Salesbury and Gloucestyr, with other of their affynyte made provysyon for a dysguysynge, or a mummynge, to be shewed to the Kinge upon Twelfethe Night, and the time was nere at hande, and all thynge redy for the same. Upon the sayd twelfethe day, came secretlye unto the Kinge, the Duke of Aumarle, and shewed to him that he wyth the other lordes aforenamed, were apointed to sle hym in the time of the foresayd dysguysynge, &c." parts as there were persons in the family; and whosoever found the money in his cake was saluted as king. On this day in the evening, the following custom is still practised in some parts of Gloucestershire; the servants of each farmer assemble in one of the fields which has been sown with wheat. In some elevated part of this field they make twelve fires of straw; around one of these, made larger than the rest, they drink a cheerful glass to their master's health, and success to the future harvest, &c.-then returning home, they are feasted with cake aud ale, and spend the night in every possible merriment. Anecdotiana. THE INVENTION OF SHORT HAND. J. Brachygraphy, or the art of writing in characters, or short hand, was invented, says Dion, by Mecænas, others say by Aquila his freed man, and that Tertius, Persamius, and Philargius, improved the invention; but, after all, they had lights from Tullius Tito, a freed man of Cicero's, who made some progress in it; but it owes its perfection The old annalist, Stowe, has also preserved an account of a remarkable mummery, in 1377, made by the citizens for disport of the young Prince Richard, son to the Black Prince. One hundred and thirty citizens disguised and wellhorsed, in a mummery, with sound of trumpets, sackbuts, cornets, shalmes, and other minstrels, and innumerable torch-lights of wax, rode to Kennington, near Lambeth, where the young Prince was, and contrived to lose to him to Seneca. at dice some jewels, rings, and gold. On this day the Eastern Magi were led by the star to pay their devotions to our Saviour; being the twelfth day after the Nativity, it is called Twelfth Day. There are various customs in various 2 H3 IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. Fuller in his "Holy State," says, that by a court trick, Sir Thomas Cooke, Lord Mayor of London, in the reign of Edward IV., being very rich, was ac cused of high treason, for lending money to the queen consort; and the king so far concerned himself in the contrivance, as to let Sir Edward Markham know, that if the law was too short to make him a traitor, he, as lord chief justice of England, upon his trial, must stretch it till it would reach his purpose. The confession of one Hawkins, who was racked in the tower, was the only proof against Sir Thomas Cooke, who pleaded in his own defence, that it was true that Hawkins did desire the loan of a thousand marks upon sufficient security; but he, understanding who the money was for, utterly refused to lend any. The judge directing the jury, told them the proof did not amount to treason, and intimated to them, that they should be careful when life was concerned, and exercise good conscience; upon hearing which, the jury acquitted the prisoner. This action of the honest and fearless judge, disobliged the court: Sir Edward was displaced from his station of lord chief justice; upon which he retired to a private life, with this satisfaction, that, though the king could make him no judge, yet it was not in his power, to deprive him of an upright character. Diary and Chronology. Monday, December 27. St. John the Evangelist, High Water 11h 58m morn-0h 0m After. This day is the Jewish festival of lighting the lamps, or the dedication of the Second Temple by the Maccabees, or its second profanation by Antiochus Epiphanes, and when the holy vesse s were again set apart for its service. During this festival, the Jews return thanks for the victories obtained by their ancestors over the Greeks that invaded the Holy Land. In the statistical account of Scotland, published at Edinburgh in 1793, mention is made that the common people of the parish of Duffus, County of Moray, still celebrate this day by assembling in large companies, to play at foot ball, and to dance and make merry. Tuesday, December 28. Dugdale, in his Origines Juridiciales, speaking of the Christmas festivities kept in Lincoln's Inn, cites an order dated 9th, Henry VIII. "that the king of the cockneys on Childermas-day. should sit and have due service; and that he and all his officers should use honest manner and good order without any waste or destruction making in wine, brawn, chely, or other vitails; as also that he, and his marshal, butler and constable marshal, should have their lawful and honest commandments by delivery of the officers of Christmas; and that the sald king of the cockueys, me none of his officers medyl neither in the buttery, nor in the Stuard of Christmass his office, upon pain of 40s. for every such medling; and lastly, that Jack Straw, and all his adherents, should be thenceforth utterly banisht and no more to be used in this house, upon pain to forfeit, for every time £5, to be levied on every fellow hapning to offend against this rule." Wednesday, December 29. St. Marcellus, abbot of the Acoemetes A. D. 485-Moon's 1st quar. 42m after 10 afternoon. Dec. 29, 1594-On this day, John Chastel, a fanatical youth, was put to death by torture for attempting to assassinate Henry IV. a crime he is supposed to have been instigated to commit by the Jesuits. Thursday, December 30. St. Maximus, Confessor, A.D. 662-High Water 15m after 2 Morn 39m after 2 Afternoon. Dec. 30, 1765-To-day, the Pretender expired at Rome; his son, usually styled the young Pretender, died in the same city, March 3, 1788; his obsequies were solemnized at his Cardinal brother's bishopric at Frescati, a few miles from Rome, where that prelate, known as Cardinal York, the only branch of the Stuart family officiated as principal mourner. Friday, December 31. St. Melania the younger, A.D. 439-New Year's Eve-Sun rises 5m aƒ. 8—sets 55m after 3 Dec. 31, 1778-Anniversary of the death of Dr. Arne, the celebrated musical composer. Of near a hundred and fifty musical pieces that have been brought on the stage at our national theatres within these forty years, thirty of them at least were set by Dr. Arne. In the composttions of this admirable musician there is a natural ease and elegance, a flow of melody which steals upon the senses, and a fulness and variety which never fails to please, without surprising the auditor by any new, affected or extraneous modulation. END OF VOL. VI. With the First Number of Vol. 7, will be published a Supplement, containing the usual Vignette, Title Page, Preface, and Index, to complete the present volume. |