this custom in you yet is but a light disposition; 'tis no habit, I hope; let me, therefore, conjure you by that power of friendship, by that holy league of love which is between us, that you would suppress it, before it come to that; for I must tell you that those who could find it in their hearts to love you for many other things, do disrespect you for this; they hate your company, and give no credit to whatsoever you say, it being one of the punishments of a swearer, as well as of a liar, not to be believed when he speaks the truth.

Excuse me that I am so free with you; what I write proceeds from the clear current of a pure affection, and I shall heartily thank you, and take it for an argument of love, if you tell me of my weaknesses, which are (God wot) too, too many; for my body is but a Cargazon of corrupt humours, and being not able to overcome them all at once, I do endeavour to do it by degrees, like Sertorius his soldier, who, when he could not cut off the horse's tail at one blow with his sword, fell to pull out the hair one by one. And touching this particular humour from which I dissuade you, it hath raged in me too often by contingent fits, but I thank God for it, I find it much abated and purged. Now, the only physic I used was a precedent fast, and recourse to the holy sacrament the next day, of purpose to implore pardon for what had passed, and power for the future to quell those exorbitant motions, those ravings and feverish fits of the soul; in regard there are no infirmities more dangerous, for at the same instant they have being, they become impieties. And the greatest symptom of amendment I find in me is, because whensoever I hear the holy name of God blasphemed by any other, it makes my heart to tremble within my breast, now, it is a penitential rule, that if sins present do not please thee, sins past will not hurt thee. All other sins have for their object either pleasure or profit, or some aim or satisfaction to body or mind, but this hath none at all; therefore fie upon 't, my dear Captain; try whether you can make a conquest of yourself in subduing this execrable custom. Alexander subdued the world, Cæsar his enemies, Hercules monsters, but he that o'ercomes himself is the true valiant captain.

From another of Howell's works, entitled Instructions for Foreign Travel, published in 1642, and which, like his letters, contains many acute and humorous observations on men and things, we extract the following passage on the

TALES OF TRAVELLERS.

Others have a custom to be always relating strange things and wonders (of the humour of Sir John Mandeville), and they usually present them to the hearers through multiplying-glasses, and thereby cause the thing to appear far greater than it is in itself; they make mountains of mole-hills, like Charenton-Bridge-Echo, which doubles the sound nine times. Such a traveller was he that reported the Indian fly to be as big as a fox; China birds to be as big as some horses, and their mice to be as big as monkeys; but they have the wit to fetch this far enough off, because the hearer may rather believe it than make a voyage so far to disprove it.

Every one knows the tale of him who reported he had seen a cabbage, under whose leaves a regiment of soldiers were sheltered from a shower of rain. Another, who was no traveller (yet the wiser man) said, he had passed by a place where there were 400 braziers making of a cauldron-200 within, and 200 without, beating the nails in; the traveller asking for what use that huge cauldron was? he told him— 'Sir, it was to boil your cabbage.'

Such another was the Spanish traveller, who was so habituated to hyperbolize, and relate wonders, that he became ridiculous in all companies, so that he was forced at last to give order to his man, when he fell into any excess this way, and report any thing improbable, he should pull him by the sleeve. The master falling

into his wonted hyperboles, spoke of a church in China that was ten thousand yards long; his man, standing behind, and pulling him by the sleeve, made him stop suddenly. The company asking, ‘I pray, sir, how broad might that church be?' he replied, 'But a yard broad, and you may thank my man for pulling me by the sleeve, else I had made it four-square for you.'

THOMAS HERBERT, the only other traveller of much celebrity of this period, was born at York about the beginning of the seventeenth century, and commenced his collegiate studies at Jesus College, Oxford; but before he took his degree he removed to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he remained, however, only for a comparatively short time. Immediately after he left the university, he applied to his kinsman, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, for aid to enable him to travel abroad to acquire those accomplishments of mind and manners which were then an indispensable part of a gentleman's education. The Earl, being much pleased with his young relative, sent him, in 1626, to the continent, and having hastened to the East, he there spent four years, chiefly in Asia and Africa; after which, returning to England, he waited on his patron at Baynard's castle in London, and communicated to him the result of his travels. From his reception by the Earl his expectations of preferment were of the liveliest kind; but the sudden death of his noble friend blasted all his hopes, and he again left England for the purpose of visiting those parts of Europe which, in his first tour, he had not seen.

On his second return Herbert published, in 1634, A Relation of some Years' Travels into Africa and the Greater Asia, especially the Territory of the Persian Monarchy, and some parts of the Oriental Indies and Isles Adjacent. These travels had a great reputation at the time at which they were published, and have since been considered the best that appeared in England previous to the close of the seventeenth century. In the civil wars Herbert sided with the parliament, and when the king was required. to dismiss his own servants, was chosen, by his majesty, one of the grooms of the bed-chamber. He then became much attached to the king, served him with great zeal and assiduity, and was on the scaffold when that illfated monarch was brought to the block. After the Restoration, Herbert was rewarded by Charles the Second with a baronetcy, and subsequently devoted much of his time to literary pursuits. In 1678, he wrote Threnodia Carolina, containing an Historical Account of the Two Last Years of the Life of King Charles II., which was afterward reprinted in a collection of 'Memoirs' of the same period of that unfortunate monarch's life.

Sir Thomas Herbert died at York on the first of March, 1682. The following is a brief extract from his travels:

DESCRIPTION OF ST. HELENA.

St. Helena was so denominated by Juan de Nova, the Portugal, in regard he first discovered it on that saint's day. It is doubtful whether it adhere to America or Afric, the vast ocean bellowing on both sides, and almost equally; yet I imagine

she inclines more to Afer than Vespusius. 'Tis in circuit thirty English miles, of that ascent and height that 'tis often enveloped with cloudes, from whom she receives moisture to fatten her; and as the land is very high, so the sea at the brink of this isle is excessive deep, and the ascent so immediate, that though the sea beat fiercely on her, yet can no ebb nor flow be well perceived there.

The water is sweet above, but, running down and participating with the salt hills, tastes brackish at his fall into the valleys, which are but two, and those very small, having their appellations from a lemon-tree above, and a ruined chapel placed beneath, built by the Spaniard, and dilapidated by the Dutch. There has been a village about it, lately depopulated from her inhabitants by command from the Spanish king; for that it became an unlawful magazine of seaman's treasure, in turning and returning out of both the Indies, whereby he lost both tribute and prerogative in apparent measure.

Monuments of antique beings nor other rarities can be found here. You see all, if you view the ribs of an old carrick, and some broken pieces of her ordnance left there against the owner's good will or approbation. Goats and hogs are the now dwellers, who multiply in great abundance, and (though unwillingly) afford themselves to hungry and sea-beaten passengers. It has stores of partridge and guineahens, all which were brought thither by the honest Portugal; who now dare neither anchor there, nor own their labours, lest the English or Flemings question them.

The isle is very even and delightful above, and gives a large prospect into the ocean. 'Tis a saying with the seaman, a man there has his choice, whether he will break his heart going up, or his neck coming down; either wish bestowing more jocundity than comfort.

From these writers of voyages and travels we now turn our attention to a very different class of authors-those who exerted themselves in the age of Elizabeth to discover and preserve the remains of antiquity which had come down to their times. Of these Camden, Speed, Spelman, and Colton present the first claim to our notice.

WILLIAM CAMDEN, who, besides being an eminent antiquarian, was one of the best historians of his age, was born in London on the second of May 1551. He received the rudiments of his education at Christ's hospital and St. Paul's school, and at the age of fifteen removed to Magdalen College, Oxford; but completed his studies at Pembroke Hall, in the same univereity. In 1575, he became second master of Westminster school; and while performing the duties of that arduous office, he devoted his leisure hours to the study of the antiquities of Britain—a subject to which, from early years, he had strongly inclined. In order personally to examine ancient remains, he travelled, in 1582, through some of the eastern and northern counties of England; and the fruits of his researches appeared in his most celebrated work entitled, Britain; or a Chorographical Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Adjacent Islands, from Remote Antiquity. This work, originally written in Latin, was published in 1586, and immediately brought the author into high repute as an antiquarian and man of learning. Anxious to improve and enlarge it, he journeyed at several times into different parts of the country, examined archives and relics of antiquity, and collected, with indefatigable industry,

whatever information might contribute to render it more complete. The sixth edition, published in 1607, was that which received Camden's finishing touches; and of this edition an English translation executed, probably with the author's assistance, by Holland, appeared in 1610.

The Britannia' has gone through many subsequent editions, and has proved so useful a repository of antiquarian and topographical knowledge, that it was styled, by Bishop Nicholson, 'the common sun, whereat our modern writers have all lighted their little torches.' The last edition of this great work is that of 1789, in two volumes folio, largely augmented by Gough.

In 1593, Camden became head master of Westminster school, and, for the use of his pupils published, four years after, a Greek grammar. This work soon became so popular as to be adopted in all the principal grammarschools in the kingdom. In the same year, 1597, he received the appointment of Clarencieux king-of-arms, an office which allowed him more leisure for his favorite pursuits; and his connection with Westminster school consequently then terminated. The principal works which he subsequently published are, An Account of the Monuments and Inscriptions in Westminster Abbey; A Collection of Ancient English Histories; A Narrative, in Latin, of the Gunpowder Plot; and Annals of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, also in Latin. The last of these works is praised by Hume as good composition, with respect both to style and matter, and as being written with simplicity of expression, very rare in that age, and with strict regard to truth.' Camden died at his own home in Chesselhurst, Kent, on the ninth of November 1623, in his seventy-third year, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Through his long life he was not less illustrious for his virtues than for his learning. In his writings he was candid and modest, in his conversation, easy and innocent, and under every change of fortune, even and exemplary. From the preface to Holland's translation of the 'Britannia,' we extract the account which Camden gives of his own labors :

EXTRACT FROM THE PREFACE TO THE BRITANNIA.

I hope it shall be no discredit if I now use again, by way of preface, the same words, with a few more, that I used twenty-four years since in the first edition of this work. Abraham Ortelius, the worthy restorer of ancient geography, arriving here in England about thirty-four years past, dealt earnestly with me that I would illustrate this isle of Britain, or, as he said, that I would restore antiquity to Britain, and Britain to antiquity; which was, (I understood,) that I would renew ancientry, enlighten obscurity, clear doubts, and recall home verity, by way of recovery, which the negligence of writers, and credulity of the common sort, had in a manner proscribed and utterly banished from among us. A painful matter, I assure you, and more than difficult; wherein what toil is to be taken, as no man thinketh, so no man believeth but he who hath made the trial. Nevertheless, how much the difficulty discouraged me from it, so much the glory of my country encouraged me to undertake it. So, while at one and the same time I was fearful to undergo the burden, and yet desirous to do some service to my country, I found two different affections, fear and boldness, I know not how, conjoined in one. Notwithstanding, by the most gracious direction of the Almighty, taking industry for my consort, I adventured

upon it, and, with all my study, care, cogitation, continual meditation, pain, and travail, I employed myself thereunto when I had any spare time. I made search after the etymology of Britain and the first inhabitants timorously; neither in so doubtful a matter have I affirmed ought confidently. For I am not ignorant that the first originals of nations are obscure, by reason of their profound antiquity, as things which are seen very deep and far remote; like as the courses, the reaches, the confluences, and the outlets of great rivers are well-known, yet their first fountains and heads lie commonly unknown. I have succinctly run over the Romans' government in Britain, and the inundation of forcing people thereinto, what they were, and from whence they came. I have traced out the ancient divisions of these kingdoms; I have summarily specified the states and judicial courts of the same. In the several counties I have compendiously set down the limits, (and yet not exactly by perch and pole, to breed question,) what is the nature of the soil, which were places of the greatest antiquity, who have been dukes, marquisses, earls, viscounts, barons, and some of the most signal and ancient families therein, (for who can particulate all?) What I have performed, I leave to men of judgment. But time, the most sound and sincere witness, will give the truest information, when envy (which persecuteth the living) shall have her mouth stopped. Thus much give me leave to say— that I have in no wise neglected such things as are material to search and sift out the truth. I have attained to some skill of the most ancient British and Saxon tongues. I have travelled over all England for the most part; I have conferred with most skillful observers in each country; I have studiously read over our own country writers, (old and new,) all Greek and Latin authors which have once made mention of Britain; I have had conference with learned men in the other parts of Christendom; I have been diligent in the records of this realm; I have looked into most libraries, registers, and memorials of churches, cities, and corporations; I have pored over many an old roll and evidence, and produced their testimony (as beyond all exception) when the cause required in their very own words (although barbarous they be) that the honour of verity might in no wise be impeached.

For all this I may be censured as unadvised, and scant modest, who, being but of the lowest form in the school of antiquity, where I might well have lurked in obscurity, have adventured as a scribbler upon the stage in this learned age, amidst the diversities of relishes both in wit and judgment. But to tell the truth unfeignedly, the love of my country, which compriseth all love in it, and hath endeared me to it, the glory of the British name, the advice of some judicious friends, hath overmastered my modesty, and (will'd I, nill'd I) hath enforced me, against mine own judgment, to undergo this burden too heavy for me, and so thrust me forth into the world's view. For I see judgment, prejudices, censures, aspersions, obstructions, detractions, affronts, and confronts as it were, in battle array to environ me on every side; some there are which wholly contemn and avile this study of antiquity as a back-looking curiosity; whose authority as I do not utterly vilify, so I do not overprize or admire their judgment, neither am I destitute of reason whereby I might approve this my purpose to well-bred, well-meaning men, which tender the glory of their native country, and moreover, could give them to understand that, in the study of antiquity, (which is always accompanied with dignity, and hath a certain resemblance with eternity,) there is a sweet food of the mind well befitting such as are of honest and noble disposition. If any there be which are desirous to be strangers in their own soil, and foreigners in their own city, they may so continue, and therein flatter themselves. For such I have not written these lines, nor taken these pains.

JOHN SPEED was born at Farington, Cheshire, in 1555. He was brought up to the business of a tailor, and followed that trade until he rose to such emimence in it as to become one of the principal merchant-tailors in London.