courtly; his discernment rapid: his eloquence commanding; and his comprehension vast and prospective. His avidity to amass wealth was contrasted with an expenditure so generous that it lost the name of avarice, and deserved to be dignified with that of ambition. His ostentation was so richly blended with munificence and hospitality, that it ought to be ascribed rather to the love of distinction than to vanity; and his pride was so nearly allied to honour and justice, that it seemed to be essential to his accomplishments as a statesman. Therefore, whether estimated by his natural endowments, his fortunes, or his designs, Wolsey must be considered as one of those great occasional men, who, at distant intervals, suddenly appear, surprising the world by their movements and their splendour.

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ANNE BOLEYN.

ANNE BOLEYN, the vicissitudes of whose fortunes have rendered her name celebrated, descended, on the side of her mother, from the Duke of Norfolk, whose daughter Sir Thomas Boleyn had espoused. Anne was born in 1307, and carried to France at seven years of age, by the sister of Henry VIII., who was given in marriage to Louis XII. The year of her return to England is uncertain; but it appears to have been about the time when scruples were first entertained by Henry VIII. respecting the legality of his marriage with the betrothed wife and widow of his brother, Catherine of Arragon. In his vis

its to the queen, to whom Anne Boleyn became maid of honour, Henry had an opportunity of observing her beauty and captivating manners. Anne quickly perceived her influence over the heart of the monarch, whose passion, either from principle or policy, she resolutely resisted. The enamoured Henry, despairing, of succeeding with the lady but

upon honourable terms, was, by her conduct, stimulated to redouble his efforts to procure a release from his former engagements. For this purpose, he resolved on making application to the court of Rome.

The amorous impatience of Henry suffered him not to wait for the dissolution of his nuptials with Catherine; a private marriage united him with Anne Boleyn on the 14th of November, 1532. The marriage was made public on the pregnancy of Anne, who, on Easter eve, 1533, was declared Queen of England, and crowned with great pomp on the first of June following. To complete the satisfaction of Henry, the new queen was, on the 7th of the ensuing September, at Greenwich, delivered of a daughter (afterwards Queen Elizabeth,) on whom was conferred the title of Princess of Wales. The affection of the king for his new queen, seemed, for a time, to increase rather than diminish with possession; by a proper measure of reserve and indulgence, she long contrived to keep alive his passion, and to manage his intractable spirit. During the six years that the divorce was pending, the attachment of Henry for Anne had been constant and fervent, his ardour seeming to increase

with the obstacles that opposed it; but with the removal of the obstacles, his love, which opposition but served to inflame, began to languish and visibly decay. The enemies of Anne, who were the first to perceive the change, eagerly sought to widen the breach. The viscountess Rocheford, a woman of profligate character, who had married the queen's brother, but who entertained for her sister-inlaw a mortal hatred, poisoned the mind of the king by the most cruel insinuations: restrained neither by humanity, nor decency, she accused her own husband of a criminal intercourse with his sister, and not content with a slander so wicked and injurious, she affected to construe into marks of particular affection, every obliging word or action of the queen to those who, by their offices, had access to her person.

Henry Norris, Weston, and Brereton, gentlemen of the king's chamber, were, with Mark Smeton, groom of the chamber, observed to be favoured with the friendship of Anne, whom they served with zeal and attachment.

A passion for a new object had vanquished in the heart of a capricious despot the small remains of tenderness for Anne, who was sup

planted in the affections of her husband by Jane, daughter of John Seymour, a young lady of singular beauty and merit.

His jealousy, over which he secretly brooded, first manifested itself at a tournament at Greenwich, where the queen, having let fall her handkerchief, he construed this accident into a signal of gallantry, and retiring instantly from the place, sent orders to confine her to her chamber. Norris, Weston, Brereton and Smeton were, together with the viscount Rocheford, immediately arrested and thrown into prison. She was the next day sent to the Tower, and, on her way thither, informed of what she had till then been unconscious, the crimes and misdemeanors alleged against her.

The sweetness and beneficence of Anne's temper had, during her prosperity, made her numberless friends: but in her falling fortunes, no one afforded her either assistance or support; no one attempted ever to interpose between her and the fury of the king; she, whose appearance had dressed every face in smiles, was now abandoned, unpitied and alone, to her adverse destiny. Her uncle, the duke of Norfolk, with whom the connexions of party were

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