There is no doubt, as is well expressed, that "the union and flight of these two doves, from their cotes, shook with consternation the grey owls of the cabinet:" even "prince Henry partook of this cabinet panic." Meanwhile "we have left the lady Arabella alone and mournful on the seas, not praying for favourable gales to convey her away, but still imploring her attendants to linger for her Seymour; still straining her sight to the point of the horizon for some speck which might give a hope of the approach of the boat freighted with all her love. Alas! never more was Arabella to cast a single look on her lover and her husband! She was overtaken by a pink in the king's service, in Calais roads; and now she declared that she cared not to be brought back again to her imprisonment should Seymour escape, whose safety was dearest to her!" Where London's Tow're its turrets show So stately by the Thames's side, Fair Arabella, child of woe! For many a day had sat and sighed. And as shee heard the waves arise, And as shee heard the bleake windes roare, As fast did heave her heartfelte sighes, And still so fast her teares did poure!* During a confinement of four years the lady Arabella "sunk beneath the hopelessness of her situation, and a secret resolution in her mind to refuse the aid of her physicians, and to wear away the faster, if she could, the feeble remains of life." The particulars of her "dreadful imprisonment" are unknown, but her letters show her affliction, and that she often thought on suicide, and as often was prevented by religious fortitude. "I could not," she says, "be so unchristian as to be the cause of my own death." "Arabella Stuart," in Evans's Old Ballads; supposed to have been written by Mickle. She affectingly paints her situation in one of her addresses to James. "In all humility, the most wretched and unfortunate creature that ever lived, prostrates itselfe at the feet of the most merciful king that ever was, desiring nothing but mercy and favour, not being more afflicted for any thing than for the losse of that which hath binne this long time the onely comfort it had in the world, and which, if it weare to do again, I would not adventure the losse of for any other worldly comfort; mercy it is I desire, and that for God's sake!” She "finally lost her reason," and died in prison distracted. "Such is the history of the lady Arabella. A writer of romance might render her one of those interesting personages whose griefs have been deepened by their royalty, and whose adventures, touched with the warm hues of love and distraction, closed at the bars of her prison-grate-a sad example of a female victim to the state! Through one dim lattice, fring'd with ivy round, To Successive suns a languid radiance threw, paint how fierce her angry guardian frown'd, To mark how fast her waning beauty flew!"" Her husband, Seymour, regained his liberty. Charles I. created him marquis of Hertford; and, under Charles II, the dukedom of Somerset, which had been lost to his family by attainder for ancient defections, was restored to it in his per son. He "retained his romantic passion for the lady of his first affections; for he called the daughter he had by his second lady by the ever beloved name of ARABELLA STUART."* Nothing remains to mark the character of this noble-minded female, but the scanty particulars from whence the present are gathered, with some letters and a few rhapsodies written while her heart was breaking, and her understanding perishing. At that period she wrote the letter here brought to light towards gratifying a natural curiosity for every thing relating to her character and person; with the same intent her handwriting is faithfully traced, and subjoined from her subscription to the original. LADY JANE DRUMMOND. The lady Arabella's suitor to her ma jesty, lady Jane Drummond, was third * Mr. D'Israeli. daughter of Patrick, third lord Drummond. She married Robert, the second earl of Roxburghe, and was mother to Hary, lor Ker. She possessed distinguished abilities, was one of the ladies of the queen's bedchamber, and governess to the royal children. She died October 7, 1643. Her funeral was fixed on by the royalists as a convenient pretext to assemble for a massacre of the leading covenanters, but the numbers proved too inconsiderable for the attempt. She was hurried in the family vault in the chapelroyal, Holyrood-house: the vault was long open to public view. The editor of "Heriot's Life," in 1822, gives her autograph as "Jane Drummond," and speaks of having seen her coffin and remains thirty years before, shortly after which period he believes the vault to have been closed. In the "Gentleman's Magazine" of February, 1799, plate II., there is a fac-simile of her autograph, as countess of Roxburghe, from her receipt, dated May 10, 1617, for 5001., part of the sum of 3000l., of his majesty's free and princely gift to her, in consideration of long and faithful service done to the queen, as one of the ladies of the bedchamber to her majesty." NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. Mean Temperature... 58. 15. June 4. REMARKABLE CELEBRATION. This was king George the Third's birthday, and therefore during his reign was kept at court, and in many towns throughout the kingdom. At Bexhill, on the coast of Sussex, where the inhabitants, who scarcely exceed 800, are remarkable for longevity and loyalty, on the 4th of June, 1819, they celebrated the king's birth-day in an appropriate and remarkable manner. Twenty-five old men, inhabitants of the parish, whose united ages amounted to 2025, averaging eighty-one each (the age of the king) dined together at the Bell Inn, and passed the day in a cheerful and happy manner. The dinner was set on table by fifteen other old men, also of the above parish, whose united ages amounted to seventy-one each, and six others, whose ages amounted to sixty-one each, rang the bells on the occasion. The old men dined at one o'clock; and at half-past two a public dinner was served up to the greater part of the respectable inhabitants to the number of eighty-one, who were also the subscribers to the old men's dinner. The assembly room was decorated with several appropriate devices; and some of the old men, with the greater part of the company, enjoyed themselves to a late hour. * BELL RINGING HAND BELLS IN CHURCHES. To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Sir,-In pp. 161-2, vol. ii., your correspondent H. H. N. N. of Newark, informs us of the custom of ringing a bell at six o'clock in the morning, and eight in the evening; likewise of a set of "hand bells" kept in the church there; and desires to be informed of their use. Although I cannot inform him of the particular origin of ringing the bell at particular hours in that town, yet by stating the practice in some other towns, it may, perhaps, contribute to unravel its meaning. With regard to the "hand bells," it seems probable that they were originally placed in churches for the use of the ringers, who employed their leisure in practising and amusing themselves in the evenings when not engaged in the belfry, as is the case at the present time in some parts of London. Although I do not recollect where the hand bells are used in town, yet I have more than once lately heard it mentioned in Fenchurch-stree! and its neighbourhood, that the ringer were in the practice of amusing themselves with hand bells at a public-house where they assembled for the purpose of practising; and it is more than probable, that some of your readers in that neighbourhood can furnish you with further particulars. In most of the towns in the west o England, they have a custom of ringing one of the church bells (generally th treble bell) in the morning and evenings Among other towns I noticed at Dor chester, Dorset, the practice of ringing bell at six in the morning in the summer, and seven in the winter, at one o'clock at noon, and at eight in the evening, con cluding after ringing at eight o'clock with striking as many strokes as the month is days old; and this practice I was there Sussex paper. informed was for calling people to work in the morning, the time for dinner, and for leaving work in the evening. At another town in Dorsetshire, Sherborne, they have an almost endless "dingdong," ," "twing-twang," or "bim-bome," throughout the day. Happening to be ately there on a market-day (Saturday) I was awakened in the morning, at four o'clock, by the ringing of the "church treble bell;" at six o'clock the church "chimes" were in play; at a quarter before seven the "almshouse bell" began, and continued to ring till seven, which is said to be for the purpose of calling the scholars of king Edward the Sixth's grammar school to their studies, who were no sooner assembled than the "school bell" announced the master's approach. At half-past eight the "almshouse bell" summoned the almsmen and women to prayers; at nine the "chimes;" at eleven the "wholesale market bell;" at twelve the "chimes;" at one the "school bell" for dinner; at half-past one the "retai! market bell;" at three the "chimes," and the church "great bell" tolled twice at a short interval, when, what is appositely enough called the "tanging bell," rang until the minister and religiously inclined had assembled for prayer; at four the "almshouse bell;" at six the "chimes;" at seven the "school bell" for supper; at eight the "church bell," which rang a quarter of an hour, and concluded by, giving eight strokes; at nine the "chimes," and the "school bell" for bed. So much bell ringing and tolling na turally led to an inquiry of the several causes that gave rise to it. By some, the first morning and eight o'clock bell is called the "curfew bell," and the practice of ringing it is said to have been continued from the time of William the Conqueror, who, by one of his laws, ordered the people to put out their fires and lights, and go to bed at the eight o'clock curfew bell; and others affirmed it to be, for the purpose of summoning the people to their labours. The practice of ringing a church bell in the morning and evening is common in This bell is said to weigh 3 tons 5 cwt., and to be the treble of a ring of bells brought from Tournay by cardinal Wolsey, whereof one is at St. Paul's, one at Oxford, one at Lincoln, and one at Exeter. The motto on the crown of this bell, which is called the great bell, is said to be "By Woolsey's gift I measure time for all; most towns where they have a bell, although its origin is seldom inquired about or noticed. I have often made inquiries on the subject, and have always received one of the above answers, and am inclined rather to believe its origin is the "curfew bell," although it now serves more the purpose of warning people to their labours, than for the "extinction and relighting of all fire and candle lights." I am, &c. R. T.* 1826. FIRST MONDAY IN JUNE. A solemn festival in the Scottish metropolis is ordained by the "Statutes of following words :-"But especially upon George Heriot's Hospital," (cap. ii.) in the the first Monday in June, every year, shall be kept a solemn commemoration and thanksgiving unto God, in this form which followeth. In the morning, about eight of the clock of that day, the lord and ordinary council of the city of Edinprovost, all the ministers, magistrates, burgh, shall assemble themselves in the committee-chamber of the said hospital; from thence, all the scholars and officers of the said hospital going before them solemnity that may be, to the Gray Friars two by two, they shall go, with all the church of the said city, where they shall hear a sermon preached by one of the said ministers, every one yearly in their courses, according to the antiquity of cipal argument of the sermon shall be to their ministry in the said city. The printhese purposes: To give God thanks for the charitable maintenance which the poor maintained in the hospital received by the bounty of the said founder, of whom shall be made honourable mention. To exhort all men of ability, according to their means, to follow his example: To urge the necessity of good works, according to men's power, for the testimony of their faith: And to clear the doctrine of our church from all the calumnies of our adversaries, who give us out to be the impugners of good works. After the ser mon ended, all above named shall return to the hospital, with the same solemnity and order they came from it, where shall be paid to the minister who preached, to buy him books, by the treasurer of the hospital for the time being, out of the treasury or rents of the hospital, the sum of By appointment of the governors, Mr. Robert Douglas, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, preached a the first Monday of June, of the year 1659, in commemoration of the founder; for this sermon he received the sum of one hundred marks "to buy him books," agreeably to the statutes. From that time the usage has been continued annually, the ministers of Edinburgh preaching in rotation, according to their seniority of office, in the old Gray Friars church. sermon on On this occasion the statue of the founder is fancifully decorated with flowers. Each of the boys receives a new suit of clothes; their relations and friends assemble; and the citizens, old and young, being admitted to view the hospital, the gaiety of the scene is highly gratifying. It was formerly a custom with the boys to dress Heriot's statue with flowers on the first of May, and to renew them on this anniversary festival when they received their new clothes.* It should seem, therefore, that the floral adornment of the statue annually on this day, is derived from its ancient dressing on the first of May. The statue stands beneath the centre tower of the north or principal front, and over the middle of a vaulted archway leading to the court-yard of the hospital. Grose says, the Latin inscription above the figure signifies, "that Heriot's was represented by that image, as his mind was by the surrounding foundatiou." person George Heriot was jeweller to king James VI., subsequently James I., of England. He was born about June, 1563, eldest son to George Heriot, one of the company of goldsmiths in Edinburgh. The elder Heriot died in 1610, having been a commissioner in the convention of estates and parliament of * Gentleman's Magazine, 1745, p. 686. Scotland, and a convener of the trades of Edinburgh at five different elections of the council. The goldsmiths were then the money-dealers in Scotland; they consequently ranked among the most respectable citizens, and to this profession the subject of this memoir was brought up by his father. It that so late as the year 1483, appears with the "hammermen" or common smiths. the goldsmiths of Edinburgh were classed They were subsequently separated, and an act of the town council on the twenty-ninth of August, 1581, conferred on the goldsmiths a monopoly of their trade, which VI., in the year 1586. was confirmed by a charter from James VII. invested the goldsmiths with the A century afterwards, in 1687, James power of searching, inspecting, and trying all jewels set in gold, in every part of the kingdom; a license to destroy all false or counterfeit work; to punish the transgressors by imprisonment or fines, and seize the working tools of all unfree goldsmiths within the city. In January, 1587, George Heriot married Christian, the daughter of Simon Marjoribanks, an Edinburgh merchant. On this occasion, his father gave him 1000 marks, with 500 more to fit out his shop and purchase implements and clothes, and he had 1075 marks with his wife. Their united fortunes amounted to about 2147. 11s. 8d., which Heriot's last biographer says, was "a considerable sum in those days; but rendered much more useful by the prospect of his father's business, which would at this time naturally be transferred to the younger and more active man.' In May, 1588, Heriot became a meinber of the incorporation of goldsmiths. "Scotland which was then an independent kingdom, with a court in the metropolis, though poor in general, was probably in a state not less favourable to the suc cess of Heriot's occupation than at present. A rude magnificence peculiar to the age, atoned for want of elegance, by the massy splendour of its ornaments. The nobles were proud and extravagant when their fortunes would permit; and Ann of Denmark, the reigning queen, was fond of show and gallantry." During this period, Heriot was employed by the court. In 1597, he was made goldsmith to the queen, and so declared "at the crosse, be opin proclamatione and sound of trumpet. Shortly after, he was appointed jeweller and goldsmith to the king, with a right to the lucrative privileges of that office. Heriot rose to opulence, and lost his wife; he afterwards married Alison, eldest daughter of James Primrose, clerk to the privy-council, and grandfather of the first earl of Roseberry. On the accession of James to the throne of England, he followed the court to London, where he continued to reside almost constantly. He obtained eminence and wealth, and died there on the twelfth of February, 1624, in the sixtieth year of his age, and was buried at St. Martin's in the Fields. Queen Ann of Denmark's Jewels. In a volume of original accounts and vouchers relative to Heriot's transactions with the queen, there are several charges which illustrate the fashion of the times in these expensive decorations, viz.— For making a brilliant in form of a ship. For gold and making of a Valentine. A ring with a heart and a serpent, all set about with diamonds; Two pendants made like moore's heads, and all sett with diamonds; A ring with a single diamond, set in a heart betwixt two hands. Two flies with diamonds. A great ring in the form of a perssed eye and a perssed heart, all sett with diamonds. One great ring, in forme of a frog, all set with diamonds, price two hundreth voundis. A jewell in forme of a butterfly. A pair of pendentis of two handis, and two serpentis hanging at them. A parrate of diamondis. A ring of a love trophe set with diamondis. Two rings, lyke black flowers, with a table diamond in each. A daissie ring sett with a table diamond. A jewell in fashione of a bay leaf, opening for a pictur, and set with diamondis on the one syde. A pair of lizard pendantis, set with diamondis. A jewell for a hatt, in forme of a bay leafe, all set with diamonds. A little watch set all over with diamonds, 170l. A ryng sett all over with diamondis, made in fashion of a lizard, 120l. A ring set with 9 diamonds, and opening on the head with the king's picture in that. MARGARET HARTSYDE. In an account of "jewells and other furnishings," which were "sould and deliuered to the Queene's most excellent matie. from the xth. of April, 1607, to the xth. of February followinge, by George Heriote, her Highnes' jewellor," there is the following "Item, deliuered to Margarett Hartsyde a ring sett all about with diamonds, and a table diamond on the head, which she gaue me to vnderstand was by her Mats. direction, price xxx li." This item in reference to Margaret Hartsyde is remarkable, because it appears that this female, who had been in the royal household, was tried in Edinburgh on the 31st of May, 1608, for stealing a pearl, worth 1107. sterling belonging to the queen. She pretended A jewell in forme of a lillye, sett of that she retained these pearls to adorn diamonds. An anker sett with diamonds. A jewell in form of a honey-suckle. A pair of pendants, made lyke two drums, sett with diamondis. A jewel, in forme of a jolley flower, sett with diamonds. A jewell in forme of a horne of aboundance, set with 6 rose diamondis, and 12 table diamondis. A ring of a burning heart set with diamondis. A ring, in forme of a scallope shell, set with a table diamond, and opening on the head. dolls for the amusement of the royal infants, and believed that the queen would never demand them; but it appeared that she used "great cunning and deceit in it," and disguised the jewels so as not to be easily known, and offered them to her majesty in sale. The king by special warrant declared her infamous, sentenced her to pay 4007. sterling as the value of the jewels, and condemned her to be imprisoned in Blackness castle till it was paid, and to confinement in Orkney during her life. In December, 1619, eleven years afterwards, "compeared the king's advocate, and produced a letter |