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to a supposed communication with Thomas the Rhymer, lived, for many years, in very good credit as a wizard.

Archbishop Spotiswoode, an honest but credulous historian, seems to have been a firm believer in the authenticity of the prophetic wares, which, in after times, were vended in the name of " true Thomas." "The prophecies," says he, "yet extant in Scottish rhymes, whereupon he was commonly called Thomas the Rhymer, may justly be admired; having foretold, so many ages before, the union of England and Scotland in the ninth degree of the Bruce's blood, with the succession of Bruce himself to the Crown, being yet a child, and other divers particulars, which the event hath ratified and made good. Boethius, in his Story, relateth his prediction of King Alexander's death, and that he did foretell the same to the Earl of March, the day before it fell out; saying, that before the next day at noon, such a tempest should blow, as Scotland had not felt for many years before.' The next morning, the day being clear, and no change appearing in the air, the Nobleman did challenge Thomas of his saying, calling him an impostor. He replied, that noon was not

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"A Proclamation for calling in and suppressing two books, written by John Milton, the one intituled, "Johannis Miltoni Angli pro Populo Anglicano Defensio contra Claudii Anonymi, alias Salmasii, Defensionem Regiam ;" and the other, in answer to a book intituled, "The Portraiture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings;" and also to a third book, intituled, "The Obstructors of Justice," written by John Goodwin.

"CHARLES R.

6

"Whereas John Milton, late of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, hath published in print two several books, the one intituled, Johannis Miltoni Angli pro Populo Anglicano Defensio contra Claudii Anonymi, alias Salmasii, Defensionem Regiam ;' and the other, in answer to a book intituled, The Portraiture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings.' In both which are contained sundry treasonable passages against us and our government, and impious endeavours to justify the horrid and unmatchable murder of our late dear father of glorious memory.

"And whereas John Goodwin, late of Coleman-street, London, Clerk, hath also published in print a book, intituled, 'The Obstructors of Justice,' written in defence of the traitorous sentence against his late Majesty. And

whereas the said John Milton and John Goodwin are both fled, or so obscure themselves, that no endeavours used for their apprehension can take effect, whereby they might be brought to legal trial, and deservedly receive condign punishment for their treasons and offences: Now to the end that our good subjects may not be corrupted in their judgments with such wicked and traitorous principles as are dispersed and scattered throughout the before-mentioned books: We, upon the motion of the Commons in Parliament now assembled, do hereby strictly charge and command all and every person and persons whatsoever, who live in any city, borough, or town incorporate, within this our kingdom of England, the dominion of Wales, and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in whose hands any of those books are or hereafter shall be, that they, upon pain of our high displeasure, and the consequence thereof, do forthwith, upon publication of this our command, or within ten days immediately following, deliver, or cause the same to be delivered, to the mayor, bailiff, or other chief officer or magistrate in any of the said cities, boroughs, or towns incorporate, where such person or persons so live; or, if living out of any city, borough, or town incorporate, then to the next justice of peace adjoining to his or their dwelling or place of abode: or if living in either of our universities, then to the vice-chancellor of that university where he or they do reside.

"And in default of such voluntary delivery, which we expect in observance of our said command, that then and after the time before limited is expired, the said chief magistrates of all the said cities, boroughs, or towns

incorporate, and the justices of the peace in their several counties, and the vice-chancellors of our said universities respectively, are hereby commanded to seize and take all and every the books aforesaid, in whose hands or possession soever they shall be found, and certify the names of the offenders unto our privy council.

"And we do hereby also give special charge and command to the said chief magistrates, justices of the peace, and vice-chancellors, respectively, that they cause the said books which shall be so brought unto any of their hands, or seized, or taken as aforesaid, by virtue of this our proclamation, to be delivered to the respective sheriffs of those counties where they respectively live, the first and next assizes that shall after happen. And the said sheriffs are hereby also required, in time of holding such assizes, to cause the same to be publicly burnt by the hands of the common hangman.

"And we do further strictly charge and command, that no man hereafter presume to print, vend, sell, or disperse any of the aforesaid books, upon pain of our heavy displeasure, and of such further punishment, as for their presumption in that behalf may any way be inflicted upon them by the laws of this realm.

"Given at our Court at Whitehall, the 13th of August, in the twelfth year of our reign, 1672."

LOUISE LABE,

a French poetess, of some reputation, as proved by the fact that a new edition of her works has just issued from the press of Lyons, her native

city, was born about 1526. Her fame, however, does not depend solely on her poetical remains ; for she is celebrated as having been profoundly skilled in Greek, Latin, Spanish, and Italian, possessing a delightful voice, and playing on the lute with much talent and animation. But this is not all endowed with no inconsiderable share of beauty, she evinced great dexterity in martial and manly exercises, insomuch that, at the age of sixteen, we find her assuming the habit of a warrior, at the siege of Perpignan, where she appears to have rendered herself the counterpart of our own Mary Ambree, the prototype of English Amazons, of whom the old ballad sings:

"When captains courageous, whom Death could not daunt,

Did march to the siege of the city of Ghent,

They muster'd their soldiers by two and by three,

But the foremost in battle was Mary Ambree.

She led up her soldiers, in battle array,

'Gainst three times their number, by break of the day;

Seven hours in skirmish continued she :

Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

She filled the skies with the smoke of her shot,

And her enemies' bodies with bullets so hot

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