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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
I
spirit of honour, which surely had never been witnessed at the bar among so many criminals, that even one of the judges could not refrain from being affected at the presence of such gal- lant men as those before him. These heroic yet affectionate youths had a trial intolerable to their social feelings. The terrific process of ex- ecuting traitors was the remains of feudal bar- barism, and has only been lately abolished.
One of these generose adolescentuli, youths of generous blood, was Chidiock Titchbume of Southampton, a youth of ancient family, and the more intimate friend of Babington. He had refused to connect himself with the assassination of Elizabeth, but his reluctant consent was inferred from his silence. His address to the populace breathes all the carelessness of life, in one who knew all its value. How feelingly he lasses into the domestic scene, amidst his wife, „is child, and his sisters! — and even his servants. Well might he ciy, more in tenderness than in reproach, " Frien^hip hath brought me to this."
VERSES, '
Made by Cheiiiock Tichbboknk of himtelfein the Tower, the night before he mffrrei death, who wot executed for treamn, September Mth, 1686.
M7 prime of youth is but a frost of cares, My feast of joy Is but a dish of pain,
My crop of corn is but a field of tares. And all my g;oodes is but vain hope of ^n.
The day is fled, and yet I saw no son,
And now I live, and now my life is done!
My spring is past, and yet it hath not sprung. The fruit is dead, and yet the leaves are green,
My youth is past, and yet I am but young, I saw the world, and yet I was not seen j
My thread is cut, and yet it is not spun.
And now I live, and now my life is done I
I sought for death, and found it in the wombe, , I lookt for life, and yet it was a shade,
I trade the ground, and knew it was my tombe. And now I dye, and now I am but made.
The glass is full, and yet my glass is run;
And now I live, and now my life is done 1*
Previous to the arresting of the persons of the conspirators, Mary was confined in a chamber of the house of Tixal, where she was prohibited the use of pen and ink, whilst her drawers were ran- sacked by sir Amias Paulet, and all her papers seized. From that moment the proceedingagainst Mary excites pity for her untimely fate, and ad- miration at the magnanimity with which she met it. From the period of her landing in England, it had been the policy and aim of Walsingham, to see her bleed on the block; and it was owing entirely to his intrigues, that the crafty minister contrived that Mary should be so involved in the plot of Ballard, as to secure her for his victim.
- This pathetic poem has been printed in one of the old
editions of sir Walter Rawleigh's Poems, but could never have been written by him. in those times the collectors of the works of a celebrated writer would insert any fugi- tive pieces of merit, and pass them under a name which was certain of securing the reader's favour. The entire poem in every line echoes the feelings of Chidiock Titch- burne, who perished with all tiie blossoms of life and genius about him in the May-time of his existence.
For a very interesting account of Chidiock Titchburuc, see Curioaitiet of Literature, vol. ili.
The dedicatory verses prefixed by Buchanaa to his paraphrastic I^tin version of the Psalms, and addiressed to the queen of Scots, are both from their collocation and elegance, a subject of interest.*
Daughter of kings unnumbered, whose fair hand Sways Scotia's sceptre now with empire bland, Passing in princely virtues regal plEu;e, Years, sex, in spuit — origin, in grace. Receive the songs of Israel's prophet king, (But kind) which doth'd in Latian vest I bring. Those strains, in northern regions harp'd by me. Far from the clime and spring of Castaiie.t Scarce worth recording might the minstrel deem. Yet may he not reject what you esteem. Transient the fame his feeble art can give. Yet sanction'd by your smile they long may Uve.
The Missal or Prayer Booh vihich the unfortu- nate Mary made use of on the scaffold, is pre- served in the monastery of Benedictines, at Bomhem, in Flanders. This book is said to have been a present to l\er from pope Pius V. It is a manuscript, on very fine vellum, beauti- fully illuminated, with pictures and burnished gold letters and flowers. It is an Officwm Mart- anum, with a diurnal of the saints, each sepa- rately depicted. The book is covereid with crim- son velvet, and silver clasps and plates.^
The following is a fac simile from this very curious work.ll
Towards the middle:
" WUttn sob) sor praters Ooo ve^nti
Near the end:
- fH^t otone soon itat«, as oft as
sou cm not »e me boUsls t»iti^ sour 3prasr» 5 gras bsBgte me anD togt^ ti^ss gpecsalls iecausc it in to t^t i^olc ffrgnpte iofttvin gott »i&all Soo a great pUafturc ttttto me, togtiri^e ame goar lobgng tng«tr«», and cbcr togU he. IWarge."
By this inscription it would seem that she gave it one of her faithful attendants, the moment before her execution: this conjecture is con- firmed by the History of Fotheringay. She bequeathed 400 francs to Katherine.
Another Missal which belonged to the queen of Scots, is now in the Imperial library at St. Petersburg, and is described by Mr. Holman, in his Travels through Russia and Siberia. 1825.
- It may not have occurred to scholars in general, that
the Scottish poet selected as his model on this oc^ision the fine elegiacs by which .Sannazarius inscribed to pope Clement Vll. his celebrated poem de Partu VirgMs. — Gretwelt. t For not to have been dipt in Lethe's lake Could save the son of Thetis from to diej But that blind bard did him Immortal make With verses dipt in dew of Castalie.— 5p«i«r. t Oentleman'e Magazine, vol. lix. page 77». g Nichol's lAterary Anecdotes, vol. ix. pag* 678.
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