ANECDOTE

W

OF

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

HEN Queen Elizabeth was at Ofterly, the feat of Sir Thomas Gresham, who built the Royal Exchange, fhe obferved to him a wall at one fide of the garden, which confined, in fome refpect, the profpe&t. Sir Thomas feemed to take no further notice of her Majesty's remark at that time than to coincide in it; but as foon as ever the retired to her chamber, he had prepared a number of workmen, in readiness, who had the wall entirely pulled down by morning. The Queen upon her walking the gardens, was furprized at the alteration; but, turning about to Sir Thomas, with great readiness observed, "she did not wonder that he that could build a 'Change, could fo readily change a building.”

ILL

LE

rify their tender minds with difmal stories of witches and ghofts, of devils and evil fpirits, of fairies and bugbears in the dark. This hath had a most mischievous effect on fome children, and hath fixed in their conftitutions fuch a rooted flavery and fear, that they have fcarce dared to be left alone all their lives, especially in the night. These ftories have made fuch a deep and frightful impreffion on their tender fancies, that it hath enervated their fouls; it hath broken their spirits early; it hath grown up with them, and mingled with their religion; it hath laid a wretched foundation for melancholy and distracting forrows.

Let these fort of informations be referved for their firmer years, and let them not be told in their hearing till they can better judge what truth or reality there is in them, and be made fenfible how much is owing to romance and fiction. Nor let their little hearts be frighted at three or four years

years old, with shocking and bloody histories, with maffacres and martyrdoms, with cuttings and burnings, with the images of horrible and barbarous murders, with racks and red hot pincers, with engines of torment and cruelty; with mangled limbs, and carcafes drenched in gore. It is time enough, when their fpirits are grown a little. firmer, to acquaint them with thefe madneffes and miferies of human nature. There is no need that the history of the holy confeffors and martyrs fhould be fet before their thoughts fo early in all their most ghaftly fhapes and colours. Thefe things, when they are older, may be of excellent ufe to discover to them the wicked and bloody principles of perfecution, both among the Heathens and Papifts; and to teach them the power of the grace of Chrift, in fupporting thefe poor fufferers under all the torments which they sustained for the love of God and the truth.

ANECDOTE

OF

HENRY IV. KING OF FRANCE.

K

ING Henry would have his children call him Papa, or Father, and not Sir, which was the new fashion introduced by Catherine de

Medicis,

Medicis. He ufed frequently to join in their amufements; and one day that this reftorer of France, and peace-maker of all Europe, was going on all-fours with the Dauphin, his fon, on his back, an Ambaffador fuddenly entered the apartment, and furprifed him in this attitude. The Monarch, without moving from it, faid to him, " Monfieur l'Ambassadeur, have you any children?" "Yes, Sire," replied he. "Very well, then; I fhall finish my race round my chamber."

ANECDOTE

OF

L

EWIS XI. was usually attended by Tristan the hermit, his grand Provost, a barbarous Minifter, and blind to all his mafter's caprices. Being one day at dinner, he perceived, by the fide of a monk, who had the curiosity to see the King dine, a Captain of Picardy, whom the Monarch detefted. He gave a wink to the Provost Tristan, who, being accustomed to this kind of language, and thinking that his master wanted. to have the monk dispatched, had him seized, upon

upon his retiring, by the Satellites, who tied him up in a fack, and threw him into the Seine. This was the method whereby Tristan used to get rid of thofe the King chofe to deftroy. The officer, who obferved the fign given by Lewis, and knew his meaning, took horfe and escaped with all poffible speed. This the King was informed of, and afked Tristan the next day, why he had not executed his orders? "Sire," replied Triftan, "our man has got a good way before this time!" "A good way!" faid the King; "he was seen yesterday at Amiens." "It is a mistake,” replied Triftan boldly; "I'll warrant he is at Rouen, and not at Amiens, if he has been fwimming ever fince." "Who do you mean?" refumed the Monarch.

Why, the monk," anfwered Tristan, "whom you pointed to yesterday: he was immediately tied up in a fack, and thrown into the river!" "How, the monk!" faid Lewis, "Good God! what hast thou done? He was the worthieft monk in my whole kingdom. A dozen masses of requiem must be faid for him to-morrow, which will clear our confciences. I wanted only to have the Picardy Captain difpatched."

ANEC