ANNA, THE PROPHETESS,
Was a Jewess, the daughter, of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She had been early married, and had lived seven years with her husband. After his death, she devoted herself to the service of Grod, and while thus employed, finding the virgin Mary with her son in the temple, she joined with the venerable Simeon in thanking God for him, and bearing testimony to him as the promised Messiah. It is worth remarking, that these two early testifiers of our Saviour's mission being both far advanced in life, could not be liable to the most distant suspicion of collusion with Joseph and Mary, in palming a false Messiah on their countrymen, as they had not the smallest probable chance of living to see him grow up to maturity, and fulfil their prophecies, and therefore could have no interest in declaring a falsehood. Thus we find the advent of our Lord was made known, spiritually, to woman as well as to man. The good old Simeon had no clearer revelation than the aged devout Anna. Both were inspired servants of the Most High; but here the characteristic piety of the woman is shown to excel. Simeon dwelt "in Jerusalem," probably engaged in secular pursuits; Anna "departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day." See St. Luke, chap. ii.
ANNE BOLEYN,
Or, more properly, Bullen, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Bullen, the representative of an ancient and noble family in Norfolk. Anne was born in 1607, and in 1514 was carried to France by Mary, the sister of Henry the Eighth of England, when she went to marry Louis the Twelfth. After the death of Louis, Mary returned to England, but Anne remained in France, in the service of Claude, wife of Francis the First; and, after her death, with the duchess of Alen{{subst:ç,}}on. The beauty and accomplishments of Anne, even at that early age, attracted great admiration in the French court.
She returned to England, and, about 1526, became maid of honour to Katharine of Arragon, wife of Henry the Eighth. Here she was receiving the addresses of Lord Percy, eldest son of the duke of Northumberland, when Henry fell violently in love with her. But Anne resolutely resisted his passion, either from principle or policy; and at length the king's impatience induced him to set on foot the divorce of Katharine, which was executed with great solemnity. The pope, however, would not consent to this proceeding; therefore Henry disowned his authority and threw off his yoke.
He married Anne privately, on the 14th. of November, 1682. The marriage was made public on Easter-eve, 1538, and Anne was crowned the 1st. of June. Her daughter Elizabeth, afterwards queen, was born on the 7th. of the following September. Anne continued to be much beloved by the king, till 1686, when the disappointment caused by the birth of a still-born son, and the charms of one of her maids of honour, Jane Seymour, alienated his affections, and turned his love to hatred.
He caused her, on very slight grounds, to be indicted for high treason, in allowing her brother, the viscount of Rochford, and four
