hell, till time come, that I must go to M. Elmer, who teacheth me so gently, so pleasantly, with such fair allurements to learning, that I think all the time nothing, whiles I am with him. And when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because, whatsoever I do else but learning, is full of grief, trouble, fear, and whole misliking unto me: and thus my book hath been so much my pleasure, and bringeth daily to me more pleasure and more, that in 10 once made that country mistress over all the respect of it, all other pleasures, in very deed, be but trifles and troubles unto me. I remember this talk gladly, both because it is so worthy of memory, and because also, it was the last talk that ever I had, and the last time that ever I 15 them. For sin, by lust and vanity, hath and saw that noble and worthy Lady.

honoured: because time was, when Italy and Rome have been, to the great good of us that now live, the best breeders and bringers up of the worthiest men, not only for wise speaking 5 but also for well doing, in all Civil affairs, that ever was in the world. But now, that the time is gone, and though the place remain, yet the old and present manners do differ as far, as black and white, as virtue and vice. Virtue

THE EVIL ENCHANTMENT OF ITALY

(From the same)

world. Vice now maketh that country slave to them that before were glad to serve it. All men seeth it: they themselves confess it, namely such as be best and wisest amongst

doth breed up everywhere common contempt of God's word, private contention in many families, open factions in every city: and so, making themselves bond to vanity and vice at 20 home, they are content to bear the yoke of serving strangers abroad. Italy now, is not that Italy that it was wont to be and therefore now not so fit a place, as some do count it, for young men to fetch either wisdom or honesty

but bad scholars, that be so ill masters to themselves. Yet, if a gentleman will needs travel into Italy, he shall do well to look on the life of the wisest traveller that ever travelled thither, set out by the wisest writer that ever spake with tongue, God's doctrine only excepted: and that is Ulysses in Homer. Ulysses and his travel I wish our travelers to look upon, not so much to fear them with the great dangers that he many times suffered, as to instruct them with his excellent wisdom which he always and everywhere used. Yea even those that be learned and witty travellers, when they be disposed to praise travelling, as a great commendation and the best Scripture they have for it, they gladly recite the third verse of Homer in his first book of Odyssey, containing a great praise of Ulysses for the wit he gathered and wisdom he used in travelling.

Sir Richard Sackville,' that worthy gentleman of worthy memory, as I said in the beginning, in the Queen's privy Chamber at Windsor, after he had talked with me for the right choice 25 from thence. For surely they will make other of a good wit in a child for learning, and of the true difference betwixt quick and hard wits, of alluring young children by gentleness to love learning, and of the special care that was to be had to keep young men from licentious living, 30 he was most earnest with me to have me say my mind also, what I thought concerning the fancy that many young gentlemen of England have to travel abroad, and namely to lead a long life in Italy. His request, both for his 35 authority and good will toward me, was a sufficient commandment unto me to satisfy his pleasure with uttering plainly my opinion in that matter. Sir, quoth I, I take going thither and living there, for a young gentleman, that 40 doth not go under the keep and guard of such a man as both by wisdom can and authority dare rule him, to be marvelous dangerous. And why I said so then, I will declare at large now, which I said then privately and write now 45 openly, not because I do contemn, either the knowledge of strange and diverse tongues, and namely the Italian tongue, which next the Greek and Latin tongue I like and love above all other: or else because I do despise the learn- 50 ing that is gotten, or the experience that is gathered in strange countries: or for any private malice that I bear to Italy: which country and in it namely Rome, I have always specially

John Aylmer (1521-1594), was a tutor to Lady Jane Grey.

1 Under treasurer of the Exchequer, and who occupied many high places, was a most influential man of his time. It was he who encouraged Ascham to write The Schoolmaster,

John Fore

1516-1587

THE EXECUTION OF LADY JANE GREY1

(From Book of Martyrs, 1563)

When she first mounted the scaffold, she 55 spake to the spectators in this manner: Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact against the queen's highness was unlawful, and 1 See p. 134, note 4.

day the Lord Guildford, her husband, one of the Duke of Northumberland's sons, was likewise beheaded, two innocents in comparison of them that sat upon them. For they were 5 both very young, and ignorantly accepted that which others had contrived, and by open proclamation consented to take from others, and give to them.

Touching the condemnation of this pious

gave sentence against her, soon after he had condemned her, fell mad, and in his raving cried out continually, to have the lady Jane taken away from him, and so he ended his life.

the consenting thereunto by me: but, touching the procurement and desire thereof by me, or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency before God, and the face of you, good christian people, this day: and therewith she wrung her hands, wherein she had her book. Then she said, I pray you all, good christian people, to bear me witness that I die a good christian woman, and that I do look to be saved by no other means, but only by the 10 lady, it is to be noted, that Judge Morgan' who mercy of God in the blood of his only Son Jesus Christ: and I confess, that when I did know the word of God, I neglected the same, loved myself and the world, and therefore this plague and punishment is happily and worthily 15 happened unto me for my sins: and yet I thank God, that of his goodness he hath thus given me a time and a respite to repent: and now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with your prayers. And then, 20 kneeling down, she turned to Feckenham,2 saying, Shall I say this psalm? and he said, Yea. Then she said the Psalm of Miserere mei Deus, in English, in a most devout manner throughout to the end; and then she stood up, 25 and gave to her maid, Mrs. Ellen, her gloves and handkerchief, and her book to Mr. Bruges; and then she untied her gown, and the executioner pressed upon her to help her off with it: but she, desiring him to let her alone, turned 30 toward her two gentlewomen, who helped her off therewith, and also with her frowes, paste,5 and neckerchief, giving to her a fair handkerchief to put about her eyes.

Then the executioner kneeled down, and 35 asked her forgiveness, whom she forgave most willingly. Then he desired her to stand upon the straw; which doing, she saw the block. Then she said, I pray you despatch me quickly. Then she kneeled down, saying, Will you take it 40 off before I lay me down? And the executioner said, No, madam. Then she tied the handkerchief about her eyes, and feeling for the block, she said, What shall I do? Where is it? Where is it? One of the standers-by guiding her 45 thereunto, she laid her head down upon the block, and then stretched forth her body, and said, Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and so finished her life, in the year of our Lord 1554, the 12th day of February, about 50 the seventeenth year of her age.

Thus died the Lady Jane: and on the same

John of Feckenham (1518?-1585), private Chaplain and Confessor to Queen Mary. He was sent to Lady Jane Grey before her execution, to attempt her conversion to the Romish faith. He acknowledged he felt himself fitter to be her disciple than her teacher.

Psalm 51, "Have mercy upon me, O God.”
Possibly a false wig.

Some kind of headdress apparently made on a pasteboard foundation.

THE AGE OF ELIZABETH c. 1579-1637

Edmund Spenser

1552-1599

THE FAERIE QUEENE
(1590)

BOOK I

I

Lo! I, the man1 whose Muse whylome did maske,

As time her taught, in lowly Shephards weeds,

Am now enforst, a farre unfitter taske,

For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine oaten
reeds,

And sing of knights and ladies gentle deeds; 5
Whose praises having slept in silence long,
Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds
To blazon broade emongst her learned
throng:

Fierce warres and faithfull loves shall moralize
my song.

II

Helpe then, O holy virgin, chiefe of nyne, 10
Thy weaker novice to performe thy will;
Lay forth out of thine everlasting scryne
The antique rolles, which there lye hidden
still,

Of Faerie knights, and fayrest Tanaquill,"

The fourth son of the Duke of Northumberland. was executed immediately after his wife.

He

7 Sir Richard Morgan (d. 1556) was a member of the commission for the trial of Lady Jane Grey, and was the one to pass sentence upon her.

1 An allusion to Spenser's first important work, The Shepherd's Calendar, a pastoral, 1579. 3 The muse Clio.

2 Directs, counsels.

4 A box for keeping books. See Lat. scrinium. Spenser evidently refers to Queen Elizabeth under this name. Kitchin and others assert that Tanaquill was a British princess. Spenser may have had Tanaquill, the wife of Tarquinius Priscus, in mind.