For ever die! for when at rest
No after-storms distract thy breast;
No bitter winds, instinct with hail,
Thy lonely dwelling can assail.

But HE who gave thee being's bliss,
Can well secure far more than this;
The bosom that thy life sustains
Still room enough for thee contains.
Like thee we all depart away,
Each to his lair at close of day;
The gracious God, who passes none,
He only knows where we are gone.
The wise departs with willing mind,
And care and sorrow leaves behind:
For HE who placed us here below,
No poorer by his gifts can grow.
The seed must perish ere it bloom—
Why should I dread to meet my death?
Rejoice! rejoice! beyond the tomb,
Day follows on this fleeting breath'!

FEBRUARY.

FEBRUARY received its name from the word Februa, because the expiatory sacrifices so called took place in this month. The sign for February is Pisces.

Remarkable Days

In FEBRUARY 1828.

2.-PURIFICATION OF THE Virgin Mary, Or, Candlemas Day. See our former volumes. 3.-SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

The words Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima (seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth), were

1

See a pleasing little volume, lately published, entitled Stray Leaves, including Translations from the Lyric Poets of Germany.' We recommend our readers to collect these stray leaves, and place them in their poetical hortus siccus; they are worth the trouble, and the cost is too trifling to be mentioned.

first applied to denote these three Sundays, when the season of Lent was extended to a fast of six weeks, that is, thirty-six days, not reckoning the Sundays, which were always celebrated as festivals.

HYMN for this DAY.

[By Bishop Heber.]

When through the torn sail the wild tempest is streaming,
When o'er the dark wave the red lightning is gleaming,
Nor hope lends a ray the poor seaman to cherish,
We fly to our Maker- Help, Lord! or we perish !'
Oh Jesus! once tossed on the breast of the billow,
Aroused by the shriek of despair from thy pillow,
Now, seated in glory, the mariner cherish,

Who cries in his danger- Help, Lord! or we perish!'
And oh, when the whirlwind of passion is raging,
When hell in our heart his wild warfare is waging,
Arise in thy strength thy redeemed to cherish,
Rebuke the destroyer Help, Lord! or we perish'!'
3.-SAINT BLASE,

Bishop of Sebasta, in Cappadocia, and beheaded in the year 289: he is the patron saint of the woolcombers.

5.-SAINT AGATHA.

She was a native of Sicily, and martyred by order of Quintianus, A.D. 251.

*6. 1684.-KING CHARLES II DIED.

Of the illness which immediately preceded the death of Charles the Second, a very full and curious detail, in Latin, is preserved in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries, together with copies of the prescriptions administered (two of them signed by no fewer than fourteen physicians), and an account of the appearances of his Majesty's body when opened; the whole completely removing the suspicion that the king was taken off by poison.-See this account in

Hymns written and adapted to the weekly Church Service of the Year, by the Right Reverend Reginald Heber, D.D., late Lord Bishop of Calcutta ;' a volume of beautiful devotional poetry, which should be in the possession of every family in the kingdom.

Mr. Ellis's Letters, Second Series, vol. iv, pp. 74-76. Charles II. received the rites of the Romish church the day before his death, and Father Hudleston's account of the death-bed scene of the king is full of interest: but for this also, and other particulars, we must refer our readers to Mr. Ellis's fourth volume, pp. 76-80.

*8. 1586.-MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS BEHEADED.

The following is the identical narrative of the execution of the Queen of Scots, which was forwarded from Fotheringay to the Court: various accounts have been dressed up from this document by several writers; but it is here given accurate and entire, and, though long, we are sure it will be acceptable to our readers.

First, the said Sc. Q. being caryed by two of Sir Amias Pauletts gentlemen, and the Sherife going before her, cam most willingly out of her chamber into an entery next the Hall, at which place the Earle of Shrewsbury and the Earle of Kente, commissioners for the execucion, with the two gouvernors of her person, and divers knightes and gentlemen did meete her, where they found one of the Sc. Q. servauntes, named Melvin, kneeling on his knees, who uttered these wordes with teares to the Q. of Sc. his mistris, Madam it wilbe the sorowfullest messuage that ever I caryed, when I shall report that my Queene and deare Mistris is dead.' Then the Qu. of Sc. shedding teares, aunswered him, You ought to rejoyce rather then weepe for that the end of Mary Stewards troubles is now come. Thou knowest Melvin that all this world is but vanity, and full of troubles and sorowes; cary this mesuage from me and tell my frendes that I die a true woman to my religion, and like a true Scottish woman, and a true French woman. But God forgive them that have long desired my ende; and he that is the true Judge of all secret thoughtes knoweth my mynde, how that ever it hath been my desire to have Scotlande and Englande united together. Comend me to my Sonne, and tell him that I have not donn any thinge that may prejudice his Kingdom of Scotland; and so, good Melvin, farewell; and kissing him, she badd him pray for her1.

The Earl of Kent and Mr. Beale relate this scene a little differently they say, "At the stayre foot she pawsed to speake to Melvile in our hearinge, which was to this effecte: Melvile, as thou hast byn an honest servaunt unto me, so I pray thee to contynue to my sonne, and commend me unto him. I have nott impugned his Reli

D

Then she turned her to the Lordes and told them that she had certayne requestes to make unto them. One was for a sum of mony, which she said Sir Amias Paulett knewe of, to be paide to one Curle her servaunte; next, that all her poore servauntes might enjoy that quietly which by her Will and Testamente she had given unto them; and lastly that they might be all well intreated, and sent home safely and honestly into their contryes. And this I doe conjure you, my Lordes, to doe.'

Aunswere was made by Sir Amias Paulett, 'I doe well remember the mony your Grace speaketh of, and your Grace neede not to make any doubte of the not performaunce of your requestes, for I doe surely thincke they shalbe graunted.'

'I have,' said she, one other request to make unto you, my Lordes, that you will suffer my poore servauntes to be present about me at my death, that they may reporte when they come into their countryes how I dyed a true woman to my religion.'

Then the Earle of Kente, one of the commissioners, aunswered, 'Madam it cannot welbe graunted, for that it is feared least some of them wold with speeches both trouble and greive your Grace and disquiett the company, of which we have had allready some experience, or seeke to wipe their napkins in some of your bloode, which were not convenient.'' My Lord,' said the Q. of Sc. 'I will give my word and promise for them that they shall not doe any such thinge as your Lordship hath named. Alas! poor sowles, yt wold doe them good to bidd me farewell. And I hope your Mistres, being a mayden Queene, in regard of womanhood, will suffer me to have some of my owne people aboute me at my death. And I know she hath not given you so straight a commission but that you may graunt me more then this, if I were a farr meaner woman then I am.' And then (seeming to be greeved) with some teares uttered thes wordes; You know that I am cosin to your Queene, and discended from the bloode of Henry the Seventh, a maryed Queene of Fraunce, and the anoynted Queene of Scotlande.'

Whereupon, after some consultacion, they graunted that she might have some of her servauntes accordinge to her Grace's region nor the Religion of others, butt wyshe him wele. And as I forgive all that have offended me in Scottland, so I would he should allso, and beseache God that he would send him his hollye spirytt and yllumynate him.. Melvill's auns were was that he would so doe, and at that instant he would beseache God to assist him with his spirytt. Then shee demaunded to speake with her Priest which was denyed unto her, the rather for that she came with a superstityous payre of -beades and a crucifix. She then desired to have her women to helpe her, and uppon her earnest request, and sayinge that when other Gentlewomen were executed shee had redd in Cronycles that they had women allowed unto them, yt was permytted that shee should have twoe named by her selfe, which were Mris, Curle, and Kennedie,'

quest, and therefore desired her to make choice of halfc a dosen of her men and women: Who presently said, that of her men she wold have Melvin, her poticary, her surgeon, and one other old man beside; and of her women, those two that did use to lye in her chamber.

After this She, being supported by Sir Amias two gentlemen aforesaid, and Melvin carying up her trayne, and also accompanied with the Lordes, Knightes, and Gentlemen aforenamed, the Sherife going before her, she passed out of the entery into the great Hall, with her countenance carelesse, importing thereby rather mirth then mournfull cheare, and so she willingly stepped up to the scaffold which was prepared for her in the Hall, being two foote high and twelve foote broade, with rayles round aboute, hanged and couvered with blacke, with a lowe stoole, long cushion, and blocke, couvered with blacke also. Then, having the stoole brought her, she satt her downe; by her, on the right hand, satt the Erle of Shrewsbury and the Erle of Kent, and on the left hand stoode the Sherife, and before her the two executioners; round about the rayles stood Knightes, Gentlemen, and others.

Then, silence being made, the Queenes Majesties Commission for the execution of the Queen of Scots was openly redd by Mr. Beale clarke of the Counsell; and thes wordes pronounced by the Assembly, God save the Queene.' During the reading of which Commission the Q. of Sc. was silent, listening unto it with as small regarde as if it had not concerned her at all; and with as cheerfull a countenaunce as if it had been a Pardon from her Majestie for her life; using asmuch straungenes in worde and deede as if she had never knowne any of the Assembly, or had been ig norant of the English language.

Then on [one] Doctor Fletcher, dean of Peterborowe, standing directly before her, without the rayle, bending his body with great reverence, began to utter this exhortacion following: Madame the Q. most excellent Matie. &c.' and iterating theis wordes three or fowre tymes, she told him, Mr. Dean, I am settled in the auncient Catholique Romayne religion, and mynd to spend my bloode in defence of it.' Then Mr. Dean said, 'Madame, chaung your opinion and repent you of your former wickednes, and settle your faith onely in Jesus Christ, by him to be saved.' Then she aunswered agayne and againe, Mr. Deane, trouble not yourselfe any more, for I am settled and resolved in this my religion, and am purposed therein to die.' Then the Earle of Shrewsbury and the Earl of Kente, perceavinge her so obstinate, tolde her that sithence she wold not heere the exhortacion begonn by Mr. Dean, We will pray for your Grace, that it stande with Gods will you may have your harte lightened, even at the last howre, with the true knowledge of God, and so die therein.' Then she aunswer