XXIV.

EDWARD VI.

"SWEET is the holiness of Youth"

so felt Time-honoured Chaucer when he framed the lay By which the Prioress beguiled the way,

And many a Pilgrim's rugged heart did melt.
Hadst thou, loved Bard! whose spirit often dwelt
In the clear land of vision, but foreseen

King, Child, and Seraph, blended in the mien
Of pious Edward kneeling as he knelt

In meek and simple Infancy, what joy

For universal Christendom had thrilled

Thy heart! what hopes inspired thy genius, skilled (O great Precursor, genuine morning Star) The lucid shafts of reason to employ,

Piercing the Papal darkness from afar!

XXV.

EDWARD SIGNING THE WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF
JOAN OF KENT.

THE tears of man in various measure gush
From various sources; gently overflow

From blissful transport some-from clefts of woe
Some with ungovernable impulse rush;
And some, coëval with the earliest blush

Of infant passion, scarcely dare to show
Their pearly lustre-coming but to go;

And some break forth when others' sorrows crush
The sympathising heart. Nor these, nor yet
The noblest drops to admiration known,

To gratitude, to injuries forgiven,

Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wet The innocent eyes of youthful monarchs driven Το pen the mandates, nature doth disown.

XXVI.

REVIVAL OF POPERY.

MELTS into silent shades the Youth, discrowned
By unrelenting Death. O People keen

For change, to whom the new looks always green !
They cast, they cast with joy upon the ground
Their Gods of wood and stone; and, at the sound
Of counter-proclamation, now are seen,
(Proud triumph is it for a sullen Queen!)
Lifting them up, the worship to confound
Of the Most High. Again do they invoke
The Creature, to the Creature glory give;
Again with frankincense the altars smoke
Like those the Heathen served; and mass is

And prayer, man's rational prerogative,

sung;

Runs through blind channels of an unknown tongue.

XXVII.

LATIMER AND RIDLEY.

How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled!
See Latimer and Ridley in the might

Of Faith stand coupled for a common flight!
One (like those Prophets whom God sent of old)
Transfigured, from this kindling hath foretold
A torch of inextinguishable light;

The other gains a confidence as bold;
And thus they foil their enemy's despite.
The penal instruments, the shows of crime,
Are glorified while this once-mitred pair

Of saintly Friends," the Murtherer's chain partake,
Corded, and burning at the social stake:"

Earth never witnessed object more sublime
In constancy, in fellowship more fair!

XXVIII.

CRANMER.

OUTSTRETCHING flame-ward his upbraided hand (O God of mercy, may no earthly Seat

Of judgment such presumptuous doom repeat!)
Amid the shuddering throng doth Cranmer stand;
Firm as the stake to which with iron band
His frame is tied; firm from the naked feet
To the bare head, the victory complete;
The shrouded Body, to the Soul's command,
Answering with more than Indian fortitude,
Through all her nerves with finer sense endued,
Till breath departs in blissful aspiration :

Then, 'mid the ghastly ruins of the fire,
Behold the unalterable heart entire,

Emblem of faith untouched, miraculous attestation !*

For the belief in this fact see the contemporary Historians.