execution was delayed for some time, the King apparently shrinking from signing the death warrant of one to whom he was so closely connected. No excuse could however be offered for his conduct, and he was beheaded on Tower Hill, on the 16th of February, 1495. In their distress the Earl of Derby and his wife retired to their seat in Lancashire; and, "the Summer following," to give Lord Bacon's own words "the King, to comfort his Mother (whom hee did alwaies tenderly love and revere) to make open Demonstration to the World, that the proceedings against Sir William Stanley (which was imposed upon him by necessitie of State) had not in any degree diminished the affection he bore to Thomas his Brother; went in Progresse to Latham, to make merrie with his Mother, and the Earle."* Henry and his Queen arrived at Knowsley on the 24th of June, 1495, and their reception was such as would at once re-cement the friendship between the King and his powerful subject and relative.† We must now bring on the scene, one to whom we have often alluded, in this memoir, as the recorder of the virtues of our Foundress. John Fisher was born at Beverley in Yorkshire, where he was educated during his boyhood; he was then sent to Cambridge and entered at Michael House, of which foundation, after proceeding to the degree of M.A., he was chosen Fellow. In the year 1494, he was Senior Proctor of the University, and during his year of office, he was sent up to Court, which was then at Greenwich. It was on this occasion that he was first introduced to Lady Margaret, who at once took a great liking to him, and on the promotion of Dr. Richard Fitz-James three years after to the see of Rochester, made Fisher her confessor in his place. Although as we have seen Lady Margaret was thrice married, she had only one son, “as though," in the words of an old Chronicler,§" she had done her part sufficiently for to have borne one man-child, and the same to be a king." She was now advancing in years, and her life was being devoted * Bacon's Henry VII., p. 139. Seacombe's House of Stanley, p. 43. Michael House was dissolved by Henry VIII. and made part of Trinity College. In the Proctor's book the expenses of the journey are given in Fisher's own hand, and he adds the remark "Pransus eram apud Dominam Matrem Regis." Vide Lewis's Life of Bishop Fisher, Vol. I., p. 5. § Hall. Edward IV., fol. 24. more and more to the service of her God, and to those acts of piety, and works of charity which have made her name memorable. For the purpose therefore of still further carrying out that rigid discipline to which she subjected herself, she obtained permission from her husband to live for the remainder of her days in a state of celibacy, and accordingly took a solemn vow to that effect before Dr. Fitz-James, and afterwards renewed it before Fisher. She was likewise admitted a member of five if not more religious houses,* Westminster, Crowland, Durham, Wynburne, and the Charter-house at London; and Baker supposes that for these reasons her portrait is usually taken and depicted with a veil, and in the habit of a Nun.t The following is a copy of Lady Margaret's profession of chastity :‡ In the presence of my lorde god Jhu Christe and his blessed mother the gloriouse Virgin Sent Marie, and of all the hole companye of heven, and of you also my gostly father. I Margarete Richmonde, with full purpos and good deliberacion for the well of my synfull sowle, wyth all my hert promys frome hensforthe the chastite of my bodye. That is, never to use my bodye, having actuall knowlege of man after the comon usage in matrimonye. The which thing I had before purpassed in my lorde my husband's dayes, then being my gostly father the bissoppe of Rochester, Mr. Richard Fitzjames, and now eftsence I fully conferme itt as far as in me lyeth, beseeching my lord God, that he will this my poor wyll accept, to the remedye of my wretched lyffe and releve of my synfull sowle. And that he will gyve me his grace to performe the same. And also, for my more meryte and quyetnesse of my sowle in dowtful thyngs pertenyng to the same, I avowe to you, my Lorde of Rochester, to whome I am and hath bene, sence the first tyme I see you, admytted, verely determined (as to my cheffe trustye counselloure) to owe myne obedyence in all thyngs concernyng the well and profite of my sowle. *Baker's Preface to Funeral Sermon, Hymer's Edition, p. 16. † Her portrait which we present to the subscribers of The Eagle in this number, will be recognized as a copy of the picture in our hall. It was engraved for Miss Halstead's book, and we are indebted to the publishers, Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co., for the copies of the plate. The signature at the bottom is from one of her letters to her son. This has been preserved in our College Registers, and is printed in Lewis's Life of Bishop Fisher, Vol. II., p. 258. The Earl of Derby died towards the end of the year 1504, and as the Countess speaks of herself as a widow in this vow, it must be dated after that year. It was probably about the year 1497, that she made her previous profession of chastity to Dr. Fitz-James. Lady Margaret, as might be expected, took great interest in the training of her grandchildren. We have only mentioned the two eldest, but besides Arthur and Margaret, Henry the Seventh had two more sons, Henry and Edmond, and three more daughters. The youngest son was called Edmond in memory of his grandfather the Earl of Richmond, and his grandmother the Countess of Richmond was godmother to him, and herself held him at the font.* This Prince however, in whom Lady Margaret would naturally take a deep interest, for he not only was christened after her first husband, but was created Duke of Somerset, her father's title, died in his infancy, and she consequently chose Henry as her special care. This is known by means of an inscription in the parish church of Bletsoe, on a monument to the memory of Sir John St. John,† who it is there stated was educated by this lady, together with her Grandson Prince Henry. We can thus account for Henry's having at so early an age imbibed a taste for letters; and if he was towards the end of his reign the villain that some historians would make him, we ought to have a very high appreciation of her who trained him so well, that it was not for years after, that his natural disposition was able to overcome the virtue and goodness with which in his childhood he had been embued. * Sandford's Genealogical History of the Kings of England, Bk. 6, Ch. I., p. 447. † Lyson's Magna Brittannia Bedfordshire, pp. 58, 59. This Sir John St. John was eldest son of Sir Oliver St. John, half-brother to Lady Margaret, and son of her mother by her second husband Sir Oliver St. John. It is from this family that the Bolingbrokes are descended, the title being given from their connection with the Lady Margaret of Lancaster. Vide Camden's Brit., Vol. I., p. 337. Miss Halsted's Margaret Beaufort, p. 197. (To be continued.) The rose in May doth bloom most fair, So fairest is the maiden's spring, When life is in its May: Ere older years their sorrows bring, Joys, said I! ah! what joy for me? "O hear me, for I love but thee, Was uttered--heard this sad reply, Tho' kindly, firmly given:"I cannot love thee, ask not why, But turn thy thoughts to Heaven. "For there, and only there, thou❜lt find To brace thy heart, confirm thy mind: |