Nah,

Thri si Whoses

upon the iron angrily:

the men away, and I'll ormer you do jot ne to. Hubert du, stan! wilar, let m. plon

a 1203, Polip of Fra, 12

as a French puer, to a wte
Artur, and sent over
reifenatis.

it a national ecet to the
Co ish knight was prodoreda
his country. This was in
erd we kitapio.
ben oly desained.

young Prince disappeared on a sudden, and it was never discovered what his fate had been. This incident, in King John's reign, has furnished one of Shakspeare's most impressive scenes:

Arthur. O, save me Hubert, save me! my eyes are out,

Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
Hubert. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here,
Arthur. Alas, what need you be so boisterous-rough?
I will not struggle,-I will stand stone-still.

For heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound,
Nay, hear me, Hubert, drive these men away,
And I will sit as quiet as a lamb ;

I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word,

Nor look upon the iron angrily :

Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hubert. Go, stand within; let me alone with him.

Act IV. Scene I.

In the year 1203, Philip of France, summoned King John, as a French peer, to answer for the death of Prince Arthur, and sent over to England a champion to enforce his demands. But as it was not judged right to submit a national object to the decision of a combat, yet an English knight was produced to defend the honour of his country. This was John de Courcy, who, after having conquered the kingdom of Ulster, in 1177, had been treacherously detained on suspicion of treason. When he was brought out, emaciated with confinement, John asked him if he would fight for him? "No, not for you! but for my country's honour, I will fight to my death," replied de Courcy. The French champion is said to have declined the combat; and de Courcy being desired to shew his prowess in the presence of John and Philip, cleft a helmet at a blow, and buried his sword

H

so deep in the post which supported it, that none but himself could draw it out. For these exploits, the de Courcys are still privileged to be covered before the King. It is added, that being asked why he looked so fiercely around him before he made the blow, he replied, "that had he failed to cleave the helm, he meant to have slain all the spectators, lest they should deride him."

25. ST. CRISPIN.

This saint, and his brother Crispinian, were born at Rome, and travelled to Soissons, in France, about the year 304, to propagate Christianity. To maintain their independence, they supported themselves by shoemaking, but the governor of the town discovering their adherence to the Christian faith, ordered them to be beheaded about the year 308.

28. ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE.

St. Simon, the Canaanite, suffered martyrdom on the cross with the greatest patience, after much suffering.

St. Jude, the son of Joseph, and brother to St. James the Less, was a zealous propagator of the gospel, and was put to death at Berylus, for disproving the superstition of the Magi.

NOVEMBER.

Again I come to view the scene,

Whose summer hues I well remember; "Tis stripped of pride, 'tis shorn of green,

Beneath the rude sway of November.

Delta.

The eleventh month, originally the ninth, derived its name from Novem, nine, and Imber. Commodus changed the name to Exuperatorious, but this alteration died with the tyrant.

1. ALL SAINTS.

A festival appointed by Pope Boniface IV. to celebrate all those saints who have not particular days appointed to them in the calendar.

The eve of this day is called Hallow-e'en, and many superstitious practices are still prevalent on it; particularly in Scotland.

2. ALL SOULS.

This day was appointed by Odilon, abbot of Cluny, in the fourth century, in commemoration of the faithful departed, and for a general prayer for those souls who are detained in purgatory.

3, 1777. PRINCESS SOPHIA BORN. The youngest sister of his present Majesty.