shallow earthly crown he had striven through bloodshed and crime to gain for him, but he trusted that he had been removed into that heavenly kingdom, where he might receive an unfading crown which could never be taken from him.

But though, in broken-hearted wretchedness, Richard could thus plead for his son, he did not, we fear, in humble penitence, turn for forgiveness for his own heavy guilt, to Him who can wash the vilest sins away, and the remainder of his life was most miserable.

His mind was never at rest; he scarcely slept, he was so troubled with fearful dreams, and his heart was continually filled with agonizing recollections and gloomy forebodings.

At length he went into the field of Bosworth to fight against the Earl of Richmond, wearing a helmet and the crown upon it, and before evening came the crown was taken from him, and he would fain have given his whole kingdom for a horse to have carried him into some place of safety. But no friend came to his

rescue, and with his helmet broken and battered to pieces, he fell covered with wounds; his body when lifeless was thrown across a horse as carelessly as if he had been a common malefactor, and was meanly buried far away from the adored child, who had been laid in his grave in his pure early days.

CHAP. IX.-EDWARD THE SIXTH.

BORN OCTOBER 12, 1537; DIED JULY 6, 1553.

'Born to govern and command,

Thou wert easy of control;

With a sceptre in thy hand;

There was meekness in thy soul.
Treasures in which mind hath part,
Joys that teach the soul to rise,
Hopes that can sustain the heart,

When the body droops and dies.'-MISS JEWSBury.

DWARD the Sixth, son of Henry

the Eighth, and his Queen, Jane

Seymour, was one of the most virtuous Princes that ever lived. His disposition was sweet in the extreme; and the following anecdote will show, that from the earliest dawn of reason, he had the highest respect for religion, and everything relating to it :

One day, when he was yet in infancy, being engaged in some diversion with several little friends, they happened to want to reach something which was above their height; upon which, one of the children laid on the floor a large Bible, which chanced to be near at hand, to step on; but Edward reproved his thoughtless companion, and lifting the holy book from the ground, reverently replaced it on the shelf from which it had been taken, nor could he be persuaded to resume his play for that time; so pained did he feel at the disrespect which had been shown to the sacred volume.

I shall now give you a proof of his generosity of character :

When he was about five years old, his godfather, Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, sent him as a present, a complete little table service, in polished silver, worked in a superior manner. There was everything needful for setting out a dinner table, in miniature.

The attendant who carried this pretty gift to the Prince, said,

'See what has been sent your Highness, but you must not let any one touch them besides yourself, or they will soon be spoiled.'

'What are you saying?' replied the royal child; I would rather never have a plaything than be obliged to keep it all to myself.'

Edward had the misfortune to lose his mother, when he was but a few days old; his father also died when he was only at the age of nine years; and he then became King of England; his uncle and other governors being appointed to aid him in administering the affairs of the nation, until he should come of age; that was to say-till his eighteenth birthday.

The English joyfully welcomed him to the throne; for the qualities of the young Prince were such, as to endear him to every heart. An old writer in speaking of him, said, 'All the graces were in him. The sweetness of his temper was such as became a mortal; his gravity becoming the majesty of a king; and his disposition suited to his high degree.