In another of these memorials, there is a remarkable observation, written almost in the spirit of prophecy, which shews, at least, an extraordinary shrewdness and acuteness in judging of men, and the spirit of the times.

"To think of a difference to be put between the Jesuits and other priests and papists, as to reduce, in some moderation, the banishment of the one, though not of the other: but to remember, that they were the reasonablest, as I take it, in the consult; and it may draw the blow of an assassin against Buckingham.

"At least the going on with the parliament hath gained this, that the discourse is ceased, My lord of Buckingham hath a great task. His head is full: either the match breaks, or his fortune breaks. He has run his courses with the stream of the king's ways; but now he goeth cross-way, he may soon lose his own way.'

"If your grace go not now constantly on for religion, and round dealing with Spain, men will either think they were mistaken in you, or that you are brought about; or that your will is good, but you have no power.

"Your grace hath a great party against you, and a good rough way. The Spaniards hate you: the Papists little better. In the opinion of the people, you are green, and not yet at a gage. Particulars are, for the most part, discontented friends or reconciled enemies: and that nice dividing between the sul orient and occident.”

We must now close our extracts, and it is melancholy to have to do so with such as those which follow.

"To the Duke of Buckingham.

"My Lord,

"I am now full three years old in misery: neither hath there been any thing done for me, whereby I might die out of ignominy, or live out of want."

Again, to Buckingham :

"I say to myself, that your lordship hath forsaken me; and I think I am one of the last that findeth it, and in nothing more than that twice at London your lordship would not vouchsafe to see me, though the latter time I begged it of you."

"It is in vain to cure the accidents of a disease, except the cause be found and removed. I know adversity is apprehensive; but I fear it is too true, that now I have lost honour, power, profit, and liberty; I have, in the end, lost that, which, to me, was more dear than all the rest, which is my friend. A change there is apparent and great; and nothing is more sure, than that nothing hath proceeded from and since my troubles, either towards your lordship or towards the world, which hath made me unworthy of your undeserved favours or undesired promises."

To the king.

"This is the last suit I shall make to your majesty in this business, prostrating myself at your mercy-seat, after fifteen years service, wherein I have served your majesty in my poor endeavours with an entire heart, and, as I presumed to say unto your majesty, am still a virgin for matters which concern your person or crown; and now only craving, that after eight steps of honour I be not precipitated altogether.

"But because he that hath taken bribes is apt to give bribes, I will go farther, and present your majesty with a bribe. For if your majesty give me peace and leisure, and God give me life, I will present your majesty with a good history of England, and a better digest of your laws."

Again, to the king.

"I have borne your majesty's image in metal, much more in heart; I was never in nineteen years service chidden by your majesty, but contrariwise often over-joyed, when your majesty would sometimes say, I was a good husband for you, though none for myself: sometimes, that I had a way to deal in business suavibus modis, which was the way which was most according to your own heart: and other most gracious speeches of affection and trust, which I feed on to this day. But why should I speak of these things which are now vanished, but only the better to express the downfal?

"For now it is thus with me: I am a year and a half old in misery though I must ever acknowledge, not without some mixture of your majesty's grace and mercy; for I do not think it possible, that any one whom you once loved should be totally miserable. Mine own means, through my own improvidence, are poor and weak, little better than my father left me. The poor things that I have had from your majesty, are either in question, or at courtesy. My dignities remain marks of your past favour, but burdens of my present fortune. The poor remnants which I had of my former fortunes, in plate or jewels, I have spread upon poor men unto whom I owed, scarce leaving myself a convenient subsistence."

He thus beseeches the king, who turned but a very negligent ear to his complaints.

"Help me (dear sovereign lord and master) and pity me so far, as that I, that have borne a bag, be not now in my age forced in effect to bear a wallet; not that I, that desire to live to study, may not be driven to study to live."

Our extracts have run out to so great a length, that we find it impossible to introduce all the interesting passages we had selected, though we have sacrificed the gratification of nearly

all comment for that purpose. We have only room for the following affecting close of a letter to James.

"I prostrate myself at your majesty's feet, I your ancient servant, now sixty-four years old in age, and three years five months old in misery. I desire not from your majesty means, nor place, nor employment, but only, after so long a time of expiation, a complete and total remission of the sentence of the upper-house, to the end that blot of ignominy may be removed from me, and from my memory with posterity; that I die not a condemned man, but may be to your majesty, as I am to God, nova creatura. Your majesty hath pardoned the like to Sir John Bennet, between whose case and mine, not being partial with myself, but speaking out of the general opinion, there was as much difference, I will not say as between black and white, but as between black and gray, or ash-coloured: look therefore down, dear sovereign, upon me also in pity. I know your majesty's heart is inscrutable for goodness; and my lord of Buckingham was wont to tell me you were the best natured man in the world; and it is God's property, that those he hath loved, he loveth to the end. Let your majesty's grace, in this my desire, stream down upon me, and let it be out of the fountain and spring-head, and ex mero motu, that, living or dying, the print of the goodness of king James may be in my heart, and his praises in my mouth. This, my most humble request, granted, may make me live a year or two happily; and denied, will kill me quickly. But yet the last thing that will die in me, will be the

heart and affection of

Your majesty's most humble

and true devoted servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN."

LONDON:

PRINTED BY D. S. MAURICE, FENCHURCH-STREET.

THE

Retrospective Review.

VOL. VI. PART II.

ART. I. ΕΚΣΚΥΒΑΛΑΥΡΟΝ; or, The Discovery of a most exquisite Jewel, more precious than Diamonds inchased in Gold, the like whereof was never seen in any age; found in the kennel of Worcester streets, the day after the Fight, and six before the Autumnal Equinox, anno 1651. Serving in this place to frontal a Vindication of the honour of Scotland from that Infamy, whereinto the Rigid Presbyterian party of that Nation, out of their Covetousness and Ambition, most dissembledly hath involved it.

Distichon ad Librum sequitur, quo tres ter adæquant Musarum numerum, casus, et articuli.

3 abl.

4 abl.

Done by and for the free'st-spoke Scot of any.

Efficiens et finis sunt sibi invicem causæ.

London. Printed by Ja: Cottrel; and are to be sold by Rich: Baddely, at the Middle Temple-gate. 1652.

We believe, that the expectation of posthumous fame which commonly animates the secret breast of the author, and which the poet sometimes boldly anticipates in his verses, was never more egregiously disappointed than in the case of Sir Thomas Urquhart, of Cromartie, Knight. In the opinion of his contemporaries, he must have been accounted a remarkable man;