protested it was better than a discourse he had written upon the same subject, and which in consequence he never finished. She translated Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History from Greek into Latin. This laborious work was afterwards translated from Latin into English by her daughter, Mary Roper. Dying at the comparatively early age of thirty-six, Mrs. Margaret Roper certainly left an imperishable name for learning, industry, and filial piety. Her daughter, above alluded to, inherited her mother's love of learning. Neither mother nor daughter, however, left any evidence that they favoured the fast-spreading principles of the Reformation.

In 1545-6, one or two years after the death of Mrs. Margaret Roper, a terrible scene was witnessed in England. Anne Askew or Ayscough, a young woman of great piety and learning, suffered martyrdom for her religious opinions. She had been a reader of the Bible from her childhood; and the doctrines of the reformers being much canvassed, she was able, from her knowledge of Scripture, to confirm the truths they taught. Domestic trials of a bitter kind mingle with the sad history of her sufferings and death for conscience' sake. Her eldest sister had been betrothed to a Mr. Kyme, a zealous Romanist. The father had paid part of his daughter's marriage portion, when the death of the young lady released the

bridegroom elect. The father, not liking to lose the portion he had paid, compelled Anne, much against her will, to accept the hand of her intended brother-in-law, he being nothing loth. Though forced into this union, the young wife fulfilled her duties in an exemplary manner; but dared not violate her conscience by conformity to her husband's religious sentiments. This so offended him that he drove her violently from his house, and denounced her to the priests. She came to London to seek the protection of those in power who professed to favour the Protestant cause. Her husband's malice, seconded by the priests, pursued her: she was examined concerning her belief, which was found, according to their notions, heretical. Imprisonment followed, no friend being permitted to speak with her. At last a cousin, Mr. Britayne, succeeded in bailing her. She was, however, apprehended again, and refusing to retract her principles, was put to the torture in the hope that she would discover the names of some ladies of quality who were of her opinion. But though racked until, as she says, she "was well-nigh dead," she refused either to change her faith or betray her friends, and she was then sentenced to be burned. At the very stake letters were brought offering her the king's pardon if she would recant. Her reply was

simple and steadfast. "That she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master."

The night before her martyrdom she composed a hymn which, though rugged, is not only interesting as one of the earliest poems in our language composed by a woman, but for the sentiments and the circumstances of the writer.

THE HYMN ANNE ASKEWE MADE THE NIGHT BEFORE HER EXECUTION.

Like as an armed knight
Appointed to the field,

*

With this world will I fight,
And Faith shall be my shield.

Faith is that weapon strong,
Which will not fail at need;
My foes, therefore, among
With it will I proceed.

If Faith be had in strength

And force of Christ's own way,

It will prevail at length,
Though devils all say nay.

Faith! if the fathers old

Obtained right witness,
Will make me very bold,
To fear not earth's distress.

I now rejoice in heart,

And Hope bids me do so;
For Christ will take my part,
And ease me of my woe.

* These verses are slightly modernized,

Lord, thou say'st, "Whoso will knock,

To them will I attend: Therefore undo the lock,

And thy strong power send.

Alas! more enemies, I have
Than hairs upon my head;
Let them not me deprave,

But fight thou in my stead.

On Thee my care I cast,
For all their cruel spite;
I care not for their haste,
Since Thou art my delight.

Like some, I'll never list,
My anchor to let fall
For every drizzling mist
My ship's substantial.

I'm little used to write

In either prose or rhyme; Yet will I show one sight, That I saw in my time.

I saw a royal throne,

Where justice ought to sit,
But in her stead was one,
Of mighty cruel wit.

Engulph'd was righteousness,
As by the raging flood-
Satan with all eagerness

Suck'd up the guiltless blood.

Then thought I, "Jesus, Lord!

When thou shalt judge us all,

Hard is it to record,

On these men what will fall!

"Yet, Lord, I thee desire,

For that they do to me,

Let them not taste the hire
Of their iniquity."

It is impossible that such women as flourished during that age could have lived and died in vain. The times, also, were eventful in other matters. New regions had been discovered, and the spirit of enterprise was strong, while the principles of the reformers had spread on every side. The seeds sown by Wickliffe two hundred years previously, and which had long germinated almost imperceptibly, now sprung up and yielded an abundant harvest. The scales of ignorance that had too long blinded the people, fell off, and their eyes were opened. Then came the great era of the Reformation, an event scarcely less important to literature than to religion, inasmuch as a noble literature is likely to be the product of a pure and holy faith.