and pleaded his claim to a disincumbrance from ecclesiastical care.

He now took up his residence at Lambeth with his friend archbishop Cranmer, and chiefly devoted himself to acts of charity. He had a principal share, however, in the composition of the homilies which were published by authority; and occasionally preached before the king.

On the revolution at court after the duke of Somerset's death, he travelled over the country as a general preacher; a practice which he continued till the accession of Mary, when he was immediately cited before the council. As he passed through Smithfield, where heretics were usually burnt, he said with a cheerful air, "This place has long groaned for me."

After some abuse from the council, he was committed to the Tower a second time, and Cranmer and Rid

ley were soon sent to join him. Their imprisonment for some months was severe: but at last they were sent to Oxford, under the care of the lieutenant of the Tower; where they were informed that the long-depending controversy between the papists and the protestants would be finally determined, in a disputation between the most eminent divines of both parties. However, when they arrived there, they were all confined in the common prison; and denied the use of pen, ink, and paper.

In this dismal state, their chief relief was in prayer and meditation; and when the commissioners from the convocation came down, about a month after, articles were exhibited for them to subscribe or confute. Having declined the former, copies were delivered them, and separate days were fixed when they were publicly to argue against them.

The venerable Latimer, his head palsied with age

and his hand propped by a staff, with a Bible under his arm, briefly professed the articles of his belief, but jocularly observed, "that he was as fit to be made governor of Calais as to dispute, at his time of life, and under such circumstances." The arguments used by the more youthful champions, Cranmer and Ridley, were over-ruled by the insolence of authority, and treated with contempt.

The three bishops, after a close confinement of sixteen months, till the pope's authority could be completely restored, were brought, not to trial, but to condemnation. Cranmer was cajoled into a recantation, and thus had a few bitter months added to his life; but he atoned at last for this instance of weakness. Latimer and Ridley were sentenced to the stake, and soon after carried to execution.

The scene of this dreadful tragedy was opposite Baliol-college. The spectators burst into tears, when they saw men venerable for age, dignity, and worth, about to suffer such a horrid death. Latimer appeared in a shroud prepared for the purpose; and looked on the pile which was to consume him, with the confi dence of immortal joy. Being fastened to a stake with an iron chain, a fagot ready kindled was laid at Ridley's feet; on which Latimer exclaimed, "Be of good comfort, master Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day light such a candle in England, as I hope, by God's grace, will never be put out.” Then recom mending his soul to the Almighty, the flames quickly closed on him, and he passed through this fiery ordeal to eternal bliss. Ridley was much longer in torture, but supported the fortitude of a Christian martyr to the last.

Of characters so severely tried, and so greatly victorious, it is impossible to speak in adequate terms. The

honest heart feels what no language can express. For piety, charity, humility, and exemplary manners, they were both alike distinguished. Their labours were all calculated to promote the cause of true religion and practical morality; to make men good and happy here, and prepare them for eternal happiness hereafter,

SEBASTIAN CABOT.

Born about 1477.-Died 1557.

From 16th Edward IV., to 4th Mary I. THE close of the fifteenth century was pregnant with many great events, and produced some of the most extraordinary characters for enterprize that ever graced the annals of fame. Columbus discovered a new continent, and Di Gama laid open the precious treasures of the East. Henry the Seventh, to whom the former had offered his services through the medium of his brother, was either too incredulous or too penurious to embrace the mighty project; but when he at length became sensible of what his narrow policy had lost, ambition or curiosity roused him to participate in the honour and advantages of Columbus's discoveries, though he could no longer claim them by an original title.

The patronage of a king will always elicit enterprize; and no country is so barren in genius and talents as not to possess some aspiring minds, to which royal countenance and encouragement can impart an enthusiasm for daring and suffering.

Sebastian Cabot was born at Bristol, about 1477. His father was a native of Venice; and made it his first care to educate his son in those branches of marine and mathematical science, to which commerce had then

just given celebrity and value. Before Sebastian was twenty years of age, he had performed several voyages; and by thus adding practice to theory, he became early eminent in the nautical profession.

The first voyage of importance, however, on which he was engaged, seems to have been that made by his father John who had obtained a joint commission with his son from Henry the Seventh, for the discovery of a north west passage to India; the favourite object of Columbus, whose glorious career the king was then desirous that his subjects should emulate or excel. The two Cabots sailed from Bristol in the spring of 1494; and pursuing their course with favourable gales, on the twenty-fourth of June saw Newfoundland; which they named Prima Vista, or first seen. Landing

on a small island on this coast, they gave it the appellation of St. John's, from its discovery on the day dedicated to St. John the Baptist. This place proved to be barren, but the seas that encircled it abounded with fish. The natives were clothed in skins; and armed with bows, arrows, pikes, wooden clubs, darts, and slings. The navigators returned to England with three of these savages on board, made a report of their discoveries, and met with a gracious reception from their delighted prince.

The father dying soon after, a fresh patent was granted to his son Sebastian, to proceed again in quest of new discoveries: he accordingly set sail on the fourth of May, 1497, before Columbus had commenced his third voyage. He sailed as high as 67 degrees 30 minutes of north latitude; whence shaping his course southerly, he came down to 56 degrees, after which he explored the whole coast of North America as low as 38 degrees. This part of the continent, he expressly says, was afterwards named Florida. His provisions

beginning to be exhausted, he found it expedient to sail back; and, first touching at Newfoundland, returned to England with a full cargo of the productions of the countries which he had visited.

It is probable that Sebastian made several subsequent voyages to complete his survey of the coast of Newfoundland. A chart of his discoveries, drawn by himself, with his effigy annexed, was hung up as a curiosity in the private gallery at Whitehall.

Some of our writers, with the laudable partiality of men feeling for the honour of their country, have expressed their indignation that the New or Western world should be called America, when in fact Cabot had discovered that continent before Americus Vesputius, (from whom it was named,) or even Columbus himself.

Newfoundland, in its most extensive sense, was certainly the first of our plantations; and the spirit of enterprize to which the discoveries of Cabot gave rise, naturally paved the way to the subsequent naval power, the commerce, and the glory, of the British nation. While Spain was enervated and rendered indolent by the riches poured into her lap from the discoveries of Columbus, it was the happier fate of England to secure such a soil and climate a gave a new stimulus to exertion, and rendered her enterprising sons still more hardy and more brave,

Of the history of a man who thus undoubtedly first discovered the continent of America, every trace must be interesting to a Briton. But for the space of twenty years of his life, no vestiges of his labours are on record. In the eighth year of Henry the Eighth heagain appears; and was then, through the interest of sir Thomas Pert, vice-admiral of England, furnished with a good ship of the king's, to prosecute fresh dis