over skill and knowledge of tongues and other sciences, whereunto he seemed rather born than brought up.

Moreover, there wanted not in him to this felicity of wit and dexterity of nature, like happiness of institution of good instructions. Neither did there lack again in him any diligence to receive that, which they would teach him; insomuch that in the midst of all his play and recreation, he would always observe and keep his hours appointed to his study, using the same with much attention, till time called him again from his book to pastime. In this his study and keeping of his hours, he did so profit, that Dr. Cranmer, the archbishop then of Canterbury, beholding his towardness, his readiness in both tongues, in translating from Greek to Latin, from Latin to Greek again, in declaiming with his school-fellows without help of his teachers, and that extempore; would weep for joy, declaring to Dr. Cox, his schoolmaster, that he would never have thought that to have been in him, except he had seen it himself,

*

To recite here his witty sentences, his grave reasons, which many times did proceed from him, and how he would sometimes in a matter, discoursed of by his council, add thereunto of his own, more reasons and causes touching the said matter, than they themselves had or could devise, it was almost incredible in that age to see, and unnecessary here to relate.

This in him may seem notorious and admirable, that he, in these immature years, could tell and recite all the ports, havens, and creeks, not within his own realm only, but also in Scotland, and likewise in France; what coming in there was, how the tide

* Several specimens of his epistles and declamations in the Latin tongue are preserved in Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. ii. Reposit. of Original, p. 162,

served in every haven or creek; moreover, what burthen and what wind served the coming into the haven.

Also, of all his justices, magistrates, and gentlemen, that bare any authority within his realm, he knew their names, their housekeeping, their religion, and conversation, what it was. Few sermons or none in his court, especially in the lord Protector's time, but he would be at them. Again, never was The present at any such discourses, but he would take notes of them with his own hand.

Besides and above all other notes and examples of his commendation, as touching the chiefest point, which ought most to touch all men, i. e. for maintaining, promoting, preferring, embracing, zealing, and defending the true cause and quarrel of Christ's holy Gospel; what was his study, his zealous fervency, his admirable constancy therein, by this one example following, amongst many others, may notably appear.

In the days of this king Edward the Sixth, Carolus the emperor made request to the said king and his council to permit Lady Mary (who after succeeded in the crown) to have mass in her house, without prejudice of the law. And the council on a time, sitting upon matters of policy, and having that in question, sent Cranmer, then archbishop of Canterbury, and Ridley, then bishop of London, to intreat the king for the same, who, coming to his grace, alleged their reasons and persuasions for the accomplishing thereof. So, the king, hearing what they could say, replied his answer again out of the Scriptures, so groundedly, gravely, and fully, that they were forced to give place to his replication, and grant the same to be true.

Then they, after long debating in this manner with his majesty, laboured politically in another sort, and alleged, "what dangers the denying thereof

might bring to his grace, what breach of amity of the emperor's part, what troubles, what unkindness, and what occasions of evil in sundry ways it would enforce, &c." Unto whom the king answered, willing them to content themselves; for he would (he said)" spend his life and all he had, rather than agree and grant to that which he knew certainly to be against the truth." The which, when the bishops heard, notwithstanding they urged him still to grant, and would by no means have his nay; then the good king, seeing their importunate suit, that needs they would have his majesty consent thereto, in the end (his tender heart bursting out into bitter weeping and sobbing) desired them to be content, Whereat the bishops themselves, seeing the king's zeal and constancy, wept as fast as he, and took their leave of his grace. And coming directly from him, the archbishop took Master Cheke, his schoolmaster, by the hand, and said; "Ah, Master Cheke, you may be glad all the days of your life, that you have such a scholar; for he hath more divinity in his little finger, than all we have in all our bodies." Thus the Lady Mary's mass for that time was stayed.

Over and besides these heavenly graces and virtues most chiefly to be required in all faithful and Christian magistrates, which have governance of Christ's flock; neither was he also unprovided of such outward gifts and knowledge, as appertain to the governance of his realm politic. Insomuch that neither he was inexpert or ignorant of the Exchange, and all the circumstances of the same, touching doings beyond the sea; but was as skilful in the practices thereof, and could say as much therein, as the chiefest doers in his affairs.

Likewise, in the entertaining of ambassadors, he would give them answers, and that to every part of their oration, to the great wonder of them that heard

him, doing that in his tender years by himself, which many princes at their mature age seldom are wont to do, but by others. And as he was, a great noter of things that pertained to princely affairs, so had he a chest severally to himself for every year, for the keeping of such records and matters, as past and were concluded by the council. Of whom also he would require a reason and cause of every thing, that should pass their judgments. And of this chest he would evermore keep the key about him. His notes also he ciphered in Greek letters, to the end that those that waited upon him, should not read nor know what he had written.

He had moreover great respect to justice, and to the dispatch of poor men's suits, and would appoint hours and times with Master Cox, then master of his requests, how and by what order they might be sped in their causes without long delays and attendance; and he would so also debate with him, that their matters might be heard and judged with equity accordingly.

What Hieronimus Cardanus saith of him concerning his knowladge in liberal sciences, I thought here to express in his own words (translated from the Latin), so much the rather, because he speaketh from his own experience, and upon the present talk which he had with the king himself. The words of Cardanus are these:

* "This summer (1552) Cardan, the great philosopher of that age, passed through England. He was brought from Italy, on the account of Hamilton, archbishop of St. Andrews, who was then desperately sick of a dropsy. Cardan cured him of his disIn his going through England he waited on king Edward, where he was so entertained by him, and observed his extraordinary parts and virtues so narrowly, that on many occations he writ afterwards of him, with great astonishment, as being the most wonderful person he had ever seen."

ease.

BURNET, Hist. Reform. vol. ii. p. 208.

"There was in him a towardly disposition and pregnancy, apt to all human literature, as who, being yet a child, had the knowledge of divers tongues, first, of the English, his own natural tongue, of the Latin also, and of the French. Neither was he ignorant (as I hear) of the Greek, Italian, and Spanish tongues, and of other languages, peradventure more. In his own, in the French, and in the Latin tongue, he was singularly perfect, and with the like facility was apt to receive all others. Neither was he ignorant in logic, in the principles of natural philosophy, or in music. There was in him lacking, neither humanity, the image of our mortality, a princely gravity and majesty, nor any kind of towardness, beseeming a noble king. Briefly, it might seem a miracle of nature, to behold the excellent wit and forwardness, that appeared in him, being yet but a child. This I speak not rhetorically, to amplify things or to make them more than truth is ; yea, the truth is more than I do utter.

Being yet but fifteen years of age, he asked of me in Latin (in which tongue he uttered his mind no less readily and eloquently than I could do myself) What my books which I had dedicated to him, 'De varietate rerum, did contain?' I said, that in 'the first chapter was shewed the cause of comets, or blazing stars, which hath been long sought for, and yet hitherto scarce fully found out.'- What cause (said he) is that?'-The concourse or meeting (said I) of the light and wandering planets and stars.'

"To this the king thus replied again: Forasmuch (said he) as the motion of the stars keepeth not one course, but is divers and variable by continual alter⚫ation, how is it then that the cause of these comets ' either doth not quickly dissipate and vanish, or that 'the comet doth not keep one certain and uniform 'course and motion with the said stars and planets?'