mitted to the will of heaven. But the shock now given to a mind already broken by calamity, was too violent to be borne. When he had reached Sheffield-park, the seat of the earl of Shrewsbury, he was taken ill; and suspicions were even entertained that he had swallowed poison, administered either by himself or others.— There seems, however, to be no good reason for the former supposition, nor any proofs of the latter. His illness proved mortal. By a slow progress and short journeys, he reached Leicester-abbey, where he was received with all possible reverence and respect; but his only observation was, "Father abbot, I am come to lay my bones among you." Three days after, he died, with the composure of a Christian, and the fortitude of a man, but reflecting on himself for his blind devotion to his prince. "Had I served God," said he, a short time before his death, "as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have forsaken me in my gray hairs; but this is the just reward I must receive for my pains and study, in not regarding my service to God, but only to my prince."

He died on the twenty-ninth of November, 1530, and next day was buried in the middle of one of the abbey chapels. Such was the end of cardinal Wolsey, who had a very considerable weight in the scale of European politics during a series of years; and who certainly possessed eminent abilities as a statesman ; but, on the whole, he may be characterized rather as a great than a good man.

In person, Wolsey was tall and comely, and very graceful in his air and manner. Owing to a blemish in one of his eyes, he always took care to be painted in profile; as may be seen in his remaining pictures.

He who is arrogant in prosperity, is commonly abject and mean in adversity; and this maxim is illustrated

by the conduct of Wolsey. His vices and weaknesses were indeed not few, but they were balanced by some splendid public virtues. He was the patron of genius and of learning, and a liberal friend to the poor.

SIR THOMAS MORE.

Born 1480.-Beheaded 1535.

From 19th Edward IV. to 26th Henry VIII. As long as incorruptible integrity, genuine principle, and steady resolution, accompanied by the mildest social virtues, have a title to esteem, the name of sir Thomas More will be held in veneration.

This great man was born in Milk-street, London. He was the son of sir John More, one of the judges of the court of king's-bench; a Iman whose virtues and abilities seem in the present instance to have been entailed with large accessions on his offspring.

Of the early presages which this young man gave of intellectual energy, there are some indisputable memorials, intermixed with fabulous legends. Being taken into the family of cardinal Morton, the primate and chancellor, as was usual for youths of talents or distinction in those days, his grace had discernment to see the bud of talents in him; and would often say to his company, "This boy who now waits at my table, whoever lives to see it, will prove a wonderful man.”

Being duly initiated in classical learning, he was removed to Canterbury-college, now part of Christchurch, Oxford; where he remained two years, and distinguished himself by his knowledge in languages, and his progress in the sciences.

On quitting the university, he entered of New-inn, London, where he applied to the study of the law: and, being called to the bar, was beginning to acquire

a reputation proportionate to his talents; when, conceiving a sudden dislike to his profession, he retired to the charter-house, and for four years secluded himself from the world, engaged in the constant practice of devotion, or the prosecution of his studies.

The greatest minds are not exempt from infirmity: they have their brilliancies and their obscurations. Superstition gained the ascendant on this illustrious character very early in life: he practised some monastic severities on himself before he was twenty years of age, and at one time had a violent inclination to become a Franciscan; but his filial piety made him at last yield to the predilection of his father in favour of the law.

Being naturally of a gay and volatile temper, it is probable that the austerity he voluntarily submitted to were intended to counteract the warmth of his passions. His friends, zealous to promote his happiness and his credit, persuaded him to marry. Accordingly, while on a visit to a gentleman who had three daughters, he was captivated with the charms of the second: but when pressed to declare his choice, he named the eldest, because he thought it would hurt her feelings to be overlooked. With this lady he lived happily for about seven years, and resumed his practice at the bar with great reputation and success; which latter circumstance in some measure originated from the following incident:

Scarcely had he completed his twenty-first year, when he was returned to serve in parliament. In this greattheatre he soon had an opportunity of displaying his abilities and his patriotism, by opposing a subsidy demanded by the king (Henry the Seventh) with such force of argument and effect, that it was actually rejected. One of the privy-council, who was present, immediately reported to the king, "that a beardless boy had frustrated all his schemes." Henry was deter

mined to be revenged: but as the son had nothing to lose, and had not exceeded the line of his duty, he visited his offence on the guiltless father; who, on some frivolous charge, was committed to the Tower, and fined a hundred pounds before he could recover his liberty. This mean instance of vindictive malice, which was intended to depress young More, only made him an object of importance in the eyes of the nation; and his own conduct was such, that his enemies neither found means to ensnare him, nor had his friends reason to be ashamed of their cordial patronage.

After his return to the bar, there was scarcely a cause of importance in which he was not solicited to be engaged; and as he never would defend a bad one, his credit rose the more by the purity of the principle on which it was founded. His first preferment, however, was that of being made judge of the sheriff's court in London; but having acquitted himself with distinguished reputation and abilities on various public occasions, Wolsey was commissioned by Henry the Eighth, to engage his services. More, with that diffidence which is peculiar to merit, and that love of independence which is natural to the virtuous, declined the proffered honour; but being importunately urged, he thought it his duty to submit to his sovereign's pleasure, and was appointed master of the requests. few weeks after, he was knighted, sworn one of the privy-council, and admitted to the greatest personal familiarity with the king; who was so much charmed with his abilities, learning, wit, and convivial talents, that he not only consulted him on affairs of state and questions of science, bút frequently invited him to be of his private parties, in order to enjoy his rich flow of humour.

A

Sir Thomas was passionately attached to domestic endearments; and when he found that his facetious

disposition was one reason of his being called on to devote so much time to court-attendance, he began to assume a graver deportment, and to dissemble his natural propensity for merriment. By this innocent artifice he recovered a greater share of liberty, and was less frequently drawn from the home he loved. The king, however, did not abate in his regard for his faithful servant. On the death of the treasurer of the exchequer in 1520, sir Thomas More was appointed, without solicitation, to that office; and three years afterwards he was chosen speaker of the house of com-mons. In this last capacity he evinced his usual intrepidity and patriotism in frustrating a motion for an oppressive subsidy, promoted by cardinal Wolsey.

Soon after he was appointed treasurer of the exchequer, he settled at Chelsea: and having lost his first wife, married a second, named Middleton; who, according to Erasmus, was a widow, old, ill-tempered, and avaricious; yet was beloved with youthful fondness by her husband.

His next promotion was to the chancellorship of the duchy of Lancaster. Notwithstanding the known independence of his mind, he was in such high favour at court, that the king frequently visited him at Chelsea After walking in the most unceremonious manner.

with him one day in the garden for nearly an hour, with nis arm familiarly thrown round sir Thomas's neck, one of his sons-in-law, who saw the intimacy with which he was treated, was remarking on the felicity of being so distinguished by his sovereign. Sir Thomas, who was no stranger to the natural baseness of Henry's heart, thus expressed himself: "I thank the Lord, I find his grace to be a very good master indeed, and believe he is as partial to me as to any subject within his realm: but yet I have no cause to presume on his favour; for if my head could win him but a castle in