the best scholars of her kingdom were invited to read with and to her. Her intellectual curiosity, indeed, seems to have been universal. As a girl she was taught the physical theories of the day; and, while still princess, she sought the acquaintance of Dr. Dee, famed as a mathematician, astronomer, and professor of occult sciences. Her interest in this singular man did not cease when she became queen, and we find her at one time sending for him to lecture before her on comets, at others listening to his speculations in natural magic. To these various pursuits she added lighter accomplishments. Poetry and music were culti vated by her, though with unequal success; the verses which she composed from time to time have little merit, but over the lute and the virginals she exercised a sway as absolute as over the sympathies of her people. Nor did she think it beneath her to aim at manual dexterity of a humbler kind. Her fingers were nimble and cunning in embroidery, and her handwriting, like that of Lady Jane Grey, was considered eminently beautiful. with "dainty dishes of her own devising.' To crown all, pains are taken at Court to prevent idleness by keeping every office provided with a Bible or the Book of the Acts and Monuments of the Church of England, or both, besides some histories and chronicles, so that a stranger on his entrance would rather imagine himself come into some public school of the universities than into a royal palace. The influence of this learned Court extended farther than with our modern notions we are apt to imagine. The term courtier has become almost obsolete among us, because the thing it denotes has ceased to exist. There are no persons now-a-days who, unauthorized by office, possess and exercise the privilege of ready access to the royal circle and the sovereign's presence. There were many such persons of both sexes in the reign of Elizabeth, and for a long time afterwards. The consequence was that the tone of the Court was reflected in the upper regions of society to an extent which we can hardly comprehend. We may fairly believe that the pattern set Under this studious sovereign, study be- by Elizabeth's household gave a consideracame fashionable at Court, even among the ble impulse to female education in all those giddiest maids of honour. While the queen families of the aristocracy which were in in her closet was adding to her knowledge the habit of frequenting the metropolis. of the Attie orators, her attendants were Perhaps the most perfect specimen of this similarly employed in the ante-chamber, or culture was Mary Sidney, Countess of Pemat least in spelling out the verses of the broke, to whom her brother, Sir Philip SidGreek Testament. Besides Greek and Lat- ney, inscribed his Arcadia. Like him, she in, the ladies of the royal train applied possessed both learning and poetical genius. themselves to French, Spanish, and Italian. As to her attainments, it is sufficient to say Yet these fair scholars were no formal and that she translated several of the Psalms insipid bookworms, for some who highly from the Hebrew into English verse. How valued their pursuits have strongly cen- highly she was esteemed by her contemposured the freedom of their manners. A raries appears from those six lines of Ben more favourable critic has left us a lively Jonson, which, so long as the English lanpicture of the occupations with which this guage lasts, will keep her name familiar as diligent sisterhood filled up their hours of a household word: leisure. He sets before us with some minuteness the aspect of the apartments in which the waiting-women are expecting their turn of service. We are first shown the seniors of the party. One is plying her needle, a second spinning silk, a third engaged with the Scriptures or some work of history, while a fourth is composing or translating some grave treatise, probably on a theological subject. From these sober dames we turn to the younger maidens; and, if we find them practising with the lute or other musical instrument, it is to be understood that this is only a recreation permitted in the interval of more serious employments. Not one of the company, girl or woman, we are assured, but, when she is at home, can help to supply the table "Underneath this sable hearse But though the example of the Court might do much, it could not move the whole mass of the nobility and gentry, much less affect women of inferior rank. At a time when liberal studies were but just making good their footing in the universities, when the majority of the clergy were still grossly ignorant, it is not conceivable that lords of remote manors, busy merchants, or moneygetting tradesmen, to say nothing of their wives and daughters, would have acquired The Orlando and the recently published much tincture of letters. At such a period, Jerusalem Delivered were admired and ladies whose lives were passed in the coun- quoted, instead of Plato's Dialogues and try, or in provincial towns, might have the Chrysostom's Homilies. Two causes in parmeans and the will to pay for instruction, ticular contributed to this result the and yet be unable to find instructors. It fresh blossoming of the national literature, was by slow and imperceptible degrees that and a certain relaxation in the standard of the rising light overspread the higher levels the current morality. Works of imaginaof the community. In the first half of tion were produced by native authors which Elizabeth's reign, education was the excep- favoured the growth of lighter tastes; nor tional distinction of fortunate individuals; did the tone of the new school of writers, in the second it began to be more equally or of their patrons, the wits and the galdiffused among both sexes in the upper lants of the Court, at all correct this tenstratum of society. It may be asked what dency. The chivalrous spirit with which the Government did to assist this diffusion. Elizabeth, and her ladies for her sake, had When Elizabeth visited Cambridge in 1564, been approached in the former part of her the sight of the colleges founded by her reign, faded away as she advanced in years, predecessors drew from her the expression and was succeeded by a fashion of hyperof a hope that she too might do something bolical compliment. Genuine respect had entitling her to remembrance among the inspired dames and damsels with the ambenefactors of learning. But the anxieties bition to deserve the homage paid to them of her reign, and perhaps also her own par- by high qualities and solid acquirements. simonious temper, prevented the fulfilment Insincere gallantry brought them down to a of her wish. The schools established dur- lower level of thought and feeling. If there ing the forty-four years of her administra- was something overstrained in their passion tion owed their origin in most cases to pri- for Greek learning, this taste was at least vate munificence. No effort was made in more rational than the subsequent rage for this any more than in the previous reigns, Euphuism. The artificial and affected style either by the State or by individuals, to of discourse so named prevailed to such an provide on a large scale for the instruction extent, that to be skilled in it became esof girls. The grammar schools were, either sential to the reputation of a fine lady. expressly or by custom, confined to boys. The vogue obtained by this "pure and reSome free schools there were, Shakes- fined English"-so it was considered-is peare calls them "charge-houses - in one evidenee out of several that a vitiated which children of both sexes were taught; sentiment was becoming general. Still, but these were frequented only by the hum- the writer who set the ungraceful fashion bler classes, and the instruction they afford- had so much of real genius and merit, that ed must have been of the most meagre his disciples were not without some apology kind. By the end of the century, the high- for their aberration. So long as Elizabeth er ranks seem to have generally recognised lived, the Court of England never descendthe necessity of some literature for their ed to blank folly and frivolity. The latter daughters; and, as the modern ladies' years of her reign produced no female inschool had not yet taken the place of the tellect of attainments comparable to those nunnery, private tuition was the only re- of the queen, nor could it boast any rivals in ancient learning to the daughters of Sir Anthony Cooke; but it could furnish a more than respectable list of cultivated women. Lady Anne Clifford, daughter of the Earl of Cumberland, received her education under her aunt, the Countess of Warwick, principal Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth, and the trusted friend of her discerning mistress. The countess seems to have aimed at giving her niece variety of information rather than exact learning. She selected for the young lady's tutor the poet-historian Samuel Daniel, who inspired her with a love of his favourite studies, and a taste for general literature. Dr. Donne is reported to have said of her, during her youth, "that she could converse source. It is noticeable, though not very surprising, that learning showed some signs of declension in the Court just when it began to be general at the universities, and less rare among the clergy. The study of Greek could hardly flourish in such an atmosphere, even when purest and most congenial, without a good deal of forcing. The queen herself, in her latter years, partially relinquished the more ambitious reading of her youth, though she translated one of Plutarch's shorter pieces when past sixty. Her ladies more completely deserted the ancient languages and literature for modern tongues and modern authors. Italian and the Italian poets became especially fashionable. on any We subject, from predestination to slea-silk." ning earnestness of Catharine Parr, of Two other women of rank deserve mention Jane Grey's pure and noble faith, of Mary' here, who, born and educated, the one Tudor's gloomy and fanatical austerity. wholly, the other partly, under Elizabeth, We think of Anne Bacon as the gifted became famous, and received the homage mother of a supremely-gifted son. of Ben Jonson in the reign of James I. think of Elizabeth as the greatest of female Lucy Harrington, Countess of Bedford, sovereigns. Amidst all their diversity, these was known, not merely as a woman of women had one point of resemblance beelegant taste, but as a Latin scholar skilled sides their learning. They had each a in ancient medals. Lady Wroth, by birth strongly-marked and vigorous individuality. a Sidney, inherited the virtues and genius The same may be affirmed of nearly all of her race, and produced a poetical ro- the other ladies mentioned in this essay. mance which, though now forgotten, ob- According to Pope," most women have no tained in its day a considerable reputation.* characters at all." The satirist might have So closes the roll of the learned ladies added that few women of his day had any whom England nurtured in the sixteenth education at all that was deserving of the century. As we repeat the names of the name. Is it unphilosophical to believe that better known among them, we do not think the rich development of character in the chiefly of their learning. We think of the high-bred women of the sixteenth century filial love of Margaret Roper, of the win- was due, in great measure, to the amplitude and robustness of their studies? * It was entitled "Urania." L. B. S. THE HOME OF A NORWEGIAN BISHOP. versation. The ladies did not appear to mind As some of my readers, with the episcopal it; but even the smokers of my party could not glories of Fulham, or Lambeth, or Farnham so far overcome their English proprieties as Castle before their mind's eye, may be curious to smoke in the drawing-room among ladies. to learn something of the style and mode of liv. Habit, of course, will reconcile one to almost ing of a Norwegian bishop, I do not think I anything; but we may fancy the astonishment shall be infringing the laws of hospitality if I of his friends, if his lordship of London were to give them a sketch of one of our evening enter- introduce into the drawing room at Fulham, tainments. No feudal castle nor lordly palace after dinner, a huge meerschaum pipe, or a box proclaimed the dignity of our hospitable enter- of mild Havanas, with their usual accompanitainer, the Bishop of Bergen. He lived in a ments, and incense the ladies with tobacco moderate sized house in one of the best streets smoke. At 9.30 we had a Norwegian supper, in Bergen, but with nothing to mark an episco- consisting of fish-cutlets, roast chicken cut up pal residence save a brass plate on the door, into fragments with cherry sauce, something with "Bishop Kaurin" in legible characters that, in compliment to us, was intended for an inscribed upon it. The house was neatly though English beefsteak, with a variety of condiplainly furnished, and rather in the French than ments of smoked ham, smoked fish, smoked English style; without any carpets on the pol- tongue, cut up into thin slices and distributed ished floors, but with several large mirrors be- about the table; the whole being chasse with tween the windows. His establishment appeared some excellent French wines. On our return to to consist of a couple of staid maid-servants and the drawing-room, fancying our feast was a man, and to be conducted in the simple un- ended, we found on the table a large soufflet, ostentatious sty le of a quiet, unpretending mid- piping hot, which, the bishop assured us, had dle-class family in England. Our English no- been concocted in our especial honour, by the tions of gallantry were at first severely tested fair hands of "Madame" herself; to which, during tea and supper by the ladies of the fam- therefore, notwithstanding our previous abunily waiting upon the guests; and we all more dant meal, we were obliged to do justice, to the than once jumped up, as we naturally should imminent peril of our digestion. There was about have done at home, to save them the trouble of the whole entertainnent an air of unaffected kindhanding us the various dishes. They explained ness and genuine hospitality, which was espeto us, however, that it was the "custom of the cially charming to us, strangers as we were, in country" for the ladies to wait upon the com- a strange land, and having no claim whatever pany, so we were fain at length to submit, on the good bishop's courtesy, beyond an agree though not, I fear, with a very good grace, to able acquaintance contracted on board the steamthis anomaly. After tea the everlasting pipes er. I may truly say with Horace, after his jolly (tell it not in the deanery of Carlisle) were in- supper party at Cocceius' villa, Prorsus jutroduced into the very sanctum of the drawing- cundè coenam produximus illam," for I never room, and the good bishop and the gentlemen spent pleasanter evening. Churchman's of his family puffed away the whole evening, Family Magazine. but without in the least interrupting the con Nothing is more striking in these regions than the completeness of the change from day to night. It is not alone the rapidity with which darkness succeeds - and in this our delicious_twilight is ever to be regretted; what I speak of is the marvellous transition from the world of sights and sounds to the world of unbroken silence and dimness. In the day, the whole air rings with life. The flowers flaunt out their gorgeous petals, not timidly or reluctantly, but with the bold confidence of admitted beauty. The buds unfold beneath your very eyes, the rivulets sing in the clear air, and myriads of insects chirp till the atmosphere seems to be charged with vitality. This intense vitality is the striking characteristic of the scene; and it is to this that night succeeds, grand, solemn, and silent, at first to all seeming in unrelieved blackness, but soon to be displayed in a glorious expanse of darkest, deepest blue, with stars of surpassing size. To make this change more effective, too, it is instantaneous. It was but a moment back, and you were gazing on the mountain peaks bathed in an opal lustre, the cicala making the air vibrate with his song; a soft sea-breeze was blowing, and stirring the oranges amongst the leaves and now all is dim and silent and breathless, as suddenly as though an enchanter's wand had waved and worked the miracle. In a little bay—rather a cleft in the shore than a bay - bounded by rocks and backed by a steep mountain overgrown with stunted olives, stood a small cottage -so very small that it looked rather like a toy house than a human dwelling, a resemblance added to now as the windows lay wide open, and all the interior was a blaze of light from two lamps. All was still and silent within; no human being was to be seen, nor was there a sign of life about the place for it was the only dwelling on the eastern shore of the island, and that island was Madalena, off Sardinia. In a little nook among the rocks, close to the sea, sat Tom and Lucy Lendrick. They held hands, but were silent; for they had come down into the darkness to muse and ponder, and drink in the delicious tranquillity of that calm hour. Lucy had now been above a week on the island, and every day Tom made progress towards recovery. She knew exactly, and as none other knew, what amount of care and nursing he would accept of without resistance where companionship would gratify and where oppress him; she knew, besides, when to leave him to the full swing of his own wild discursive talk, and never to break in upon his moods of silent reflection. For upwards of half an hour they had sat thus without a word, when Tom suddenly turning round, and looking towards the cottage, said, "Isn't this the very sort of thing we used to imagine and wish for long ago, Lucy?" "It was just what was passing through my mind. I was thinking how often we longed to have one of the islands on Lough Dergh, and to go and live there all by ourselves.' "We never dreamed of anything so luxurious as this, though. We knew nothing of limes and oranges, Lucy. We never fancied such a starry sky, or an air so loaded with pefume. I declare," cried he, with more energy, "it repays one for all the disappointment, to come and taste the luxury of such a night as this." "And what is the disappointment you speak of, Tom?" "I mean about our project— that blessed mine, by which we were to have amassed a fortune, and which has only yielded lead enough to shoot ourselves with." "I never suspected that," said she, with a sigh. 66 Of course you never did; nor am I in a great hurry to tell it even now. I'd not whisper it if Sir Brook were on the same island with us. Do you know, girl, that he resents a word against the mine, as if it was a stain upon his own honour? For a while I used to catch up his enthusiasm, and think if we only go on steadily, if we simply persist, we are sure to succeed in the end. But when week after week rolled over, and not a trace of a mineral appeared when the very workmen said we were toiling in vain when I felt half ashamed to meet the jeering questions of the neighbours, and used to skulk up to the shaft by a back way, he remarked it, and said to me one morning, I am afraid, Tom, it is your sense of loyalty to me that keeps you here, and not your hope of success. Be frank, and tell me if this be so.' I blundered out something about my determination to share his fate, whatever it might be, and it would have been lucky if I had stopped there; but I went on to say that I thought the mine was an arrant delusion, and that the sooner we turned our backs on it, and addressed our energies to another quarter, the better. 'You think so?' said he, looking almost fiercely at me. I am certain of it,' said I decisively; for I thought the moment had come when a word of truth could do him good service. He went out without speaking, and instead of going to Lavanna, where the mine is, he went over to Cagliari, and only came home late at night. The next morning, while we were taking our coffee before setting out, he said to me, Don't strap on your knapsack to-day. I don't mean you should come down into the shaft again.' 'How so?' asked I; 'what have I said or done that could offend you?' Nothing, my dear boy,' said he, laying his hand on my shoulder; but I cannot bear you should meet this dreary life of toil without the one thing that can lighten its gloom,- Hope. I have managed, therefore, to raise a small sum on the mine; for,' said he, with a sly laugh, there are men in Cagliari who don't take the despondent view you have taken of it; and I have written to my old friend at the Horse Guards to give you a commission, and you shall go and be a soldier.' And leave you here, sir, all alone?' 'Far from alone, lad. I have that companion which you tell me never joined you. I have Hope with me.' Then I'll stay too, sir, and try if he'll not give me his company yet. At all events, I shall have yours; and there is nothing I know that could recompense me for the loss of it.' It was not very easy to turn him from his plan, but I insisted so heartily for I'd have stayed on now, if it were to have entailed a whole life of poverty-that he gave in at last; and from that hour to this, not a word of other than agreement has passed between us. For my own part, I began to work with a wiil, and a determination that I never felt before and perhaps I overtaxed my strength, for I caught this fever by remaining till the heavy dews began to fall, and in this climate it is always a danger." "And the mine, Tom did it grow better?" "Not a bit. I verily believe we never saw ore from that day. We got upon yellow clay, and lower down upon limestone rock, and then upon water; and we are pumping away yet, and old Sir Brook is just as much interested by the decrease of the water as if he saw a silver floor beneath it. We've got eight inches less this morning, Tom; we are doing famously now.' I declare to you, Lucy, when I saw his fine cherry look and bright honest eye, I thought how far better this man's fancies are than the hard facts of other people; and I'd rather have his great nature than all the wealth success could bring us." 66 My own dear brother! was all she could say, as she grasped his hand, and held it with both her own. "The worst of all is, that in the infatuation he feels about this mining project he forgets everything else. Letters come to him from agents and men of business asking for speedy answers; some occasionally come to tell that funds upon which he had reckoned to meet certain payments had been withdrawn from his banker long since. When he reads these, he ponders a moment, and mutters, 'The old story, I suppose. It is so easy to write Brook Fossbrooke;' and then the whole seems to pass out of his mind, and he'll say, Come along, Tom, we must push matters a little want some coin by the end of the month.' · I'll "When I grew so weak that I couldn't go to the mine, the accounts he used to give me daily made me think we must be prospering. He would come back every night so cheery and so hopeful, and his eyes would sparkle as he'd tell of a bright vein that they'd just struck.' He owned that the men were less sanguine, but what could they know? they had no other teaching than the poor experience of daily labour. If they saw lead or silver, they believed in it. To him, however, the signs of the coming ore were enough; and then he would open a paper full of dark earth in which a few shining particles might be detected, and point them out to me as the germs of untold riches. These are silver, Tom, every one of them; they are oxydised, but still perfectly pure. I've seen the natives in Ceylon washing earth not richer than this;' and the poor fellow would make this hopeful tidings the reason for treating me to champagne, which in an unlucky moment the Doctor said would be good for me, and which Sir Brook declared always disagreed with him. But I don't believe it, Lucy-I don't believe it! I am certain that he suffered many a privation to give me luxuries that he wouldn't share. Shall I tell you the |