ANNE BOLEYN. THE following Original Letter is in the British Museum, and fhews of what confequence Anne Boleyn thought Archbishop Cranmer's interference in her marriage with King Henry the Eighth. It is addreffed to that Prelate, and is curious for the fimplicity of the 1tyle, and the spelling of it. "My Lord, in my most humble wise I thank your Grace for the gyft of thys benefice for "Mafter Barlo, how behit this ftandeth to non "effecte, for it is made for Tonbridge, and I "would have it (if your pleasure war fo) for "Sondridge; for Tonbrige is in my lord my "father's gyft, bi avowson that he hath, and it I do troft that I do troft that your Grace "is not yet voyd. "will graunt him Sundrig, and confidering the payne that he hath taken, I do thynke that it "fhall be verie well beftovyd, and in fo doing I "reckon myself moche bounde to your Grace. "For all thofe that have taken pain in the King's "matter, it will be my daily ftudy to imagin all "the waies that I can devyfe to do them servis "and pleafur. And thus I make amende, send46 yng you again the letter that you fent me, "thankyng your Grace moft humbley for the "payne 66 payne that you take for to wryte to me, affuringe you, that next the Kynge's letter, there is "nothinge that can rejoice me fo moche. With "the hande of her that is moft bounde to be "Your most humble "and obedient Servant, 66 ANNE BOLEYN." "My Lord, I befyche your Grace with all my "hart to remember the Parfon of Honeylane for 86 my fake shortly." CARDINAL WOLSEY. THE following diftich was left upon the walls of the Cardinal's College, now that of Chrift Church, in Oxford, whilft it was building: Non ftabat ifta domus, multis fundata rapinis ; These walls, which rapine rais'd, what ills await, Soon or to ruin they fhall fall a prey, Or own a new ufurper's lawless sway. The foundation-ftone of the College which the Cardinal founded at Ipswich, was discovered a few years ago. It is now in the Chapter-house of Chrift-Church, Oxford. One of the most curious and entertaining pieces of biography in the English language is the account of the life of this great Child of Fortune by his gentleman-ufher, Sir William Cavendish. It was first printed in the year 1641 by the Puritans, with many additions and interpolations, to render Archbishop Laud odious, by fhewing how far an Archbishop had once carried Church power. Mr. Grove, about the year 1761, published a correct edition of this Work, collated from the various MSS. of it in the Mufeum and in other places. According to this narrative, the Cardinal fays to Mafter Kingston upon his death-bed, "Let his "Grace," meaning Henry the Eighth, "confider "the ftory of King Richard the Second, fon of his progenitor, who lived in the time of Wickliffe's feditions and herefies. Did not the Commons, "I pray you, in his time rise against the nobility " and chief governors of this realm, and at the "last some of them were put to death without "juftice or mercy? And, under pretence of "having all things common, did they not fall to "fpoiling and robbing, and at last tooke the "Kinge's person and carried him about the city, * making him obedient to their proclamations ?” Alas, Alas, if these be not plain precedents and "fufficient perfuafions to admonish a Prince, then "God will take away from us our prudent rulers, and leave us to the hands of our enemies, & then "will enfue mischiefe upon mifchiefe, inconveniencies, barrenneffe, & fcarcitie, for want of good order in the Commonwealth, from which "God of his tender mercy defend us. "Mafter Kingston farewell. I wishe all things "may have good fucceffe! My time drawes on, "I may not tarrie with you. I pray remember "my words." SIR THOMAS MORE. IN how different a manner do Princes appreciate the merit of their fervants!-When that honour to human nature Sir Thomas More was beheaded by his cruel and ungrateful Sovereign, Charles the Fifth told Sir Thomas Ellyot, "If I had been "mafter of fuch a fervant, of whofe doings our"felves have had thefe many years no small expe"rience, we would rather have loft the best citie "of our dominions than have loft fuch a worthie Counsellor." Sir Thomas More, who well knew knew the difpofition of Henry the Eighth, faid one day to his fon Mr. Roper, who had compli mented him upon feeing the King walk with his arm about his neck, "I thanke Our Lord, I "find his Grace a very good lorde indeed, and I do believe he doth as fingularly favour me as any fubject within this realme. Howbeit, fon #6 Roper, I may tell thee, I have no caufe to be "proud thereof; for if my heade would winne him a caftle in France, yt should not fayle to go." MR. ROPER's life of his venerable father-in-law Is one of the few pieces of natural biography that we have in the language, and must be perufed with great pleasure by thofe who love ancient times, ancient manners, and ancient virtues. Of Sir Thomas More's difinterestednefs and integrity in his office of Chancellor, Mr. Roper gives this inftance: That after the refignation of it "he was "not able fufficiently to finde meate, drink, fuell, "apparel, and fuch other neceffary charges; and "that after his debts payed he had not I know (his "chaine excepted) in gold and filver left him the "value of one hundred pounds." Mr. Roper thus defcribes Sir Thomas More. "He was a man of fingular worth, and of a cleare "unfpotted confcience, as witneffeth Erafmus, * more pure and white than the whiteft fnow, and " of |