of his father was, that he should not content himself with considering Charles merely as his elder brother, but that he should obey him as his sovereign: that they should all love one another, and forgive the enemies of their father. Then the king said to her, "My dear love, shall you forget this?" No," said she,

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"I shall never forget it while I live." a torrent of tears, she promised him to ting, the details of their interview.

And shedding commit to wri

Then the king, taking the Duke of Gloucester upon his knee, said, “My dear child, they are going to cut thy father's head off." Upon this, the child looked very steadfastly upon him. "Mark, dear, what I say: They will cut off my head, and perhaps make thee a king! But mark what I say; thou must not be a king, as long as thy brothers Charles and James are alive. They will cut off thy brothers' heads, when they can catch them and thy head too they will cut off at last. Therefore, I charge thee, do not be made a king by them." The duke replied, "I will be torn in pieces first!" So determined an answer, from one of such tender years, filled the king's eyes with tears of joy and emotion.

ISABELLA, AFTERWARDS QUEEN OF CASTILE.

WH

HEN the nobles of Castile, disgusted with the misgovernment of their king, Henry the Fourth, waited upon his sister Isabella, then about eighteen, with an offer of the crown, she replied, that it was not theirs to give; and that while her brother Henry existed, nothing should induce her to assume a title which was his by the laws of God and man; at the same time she claimed her right of succession, and the title of Princess of Asturia, which belonged to her as heiress to the throne. The chiefs were astonished and disconcerted by a reply which left them without an excuse for revolt, and having in vain endeavoured to overcome her scruples, they concluded a treaty with Henry.

EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, AFTERWARDS EDWARD THE THIRD.

SOON

OON after the execution of his favourite, Hugh De Spencer, the weak and incapable Edward the Second was imprisoned by his rebellious barons, and his eldest son Edward, then twelve years of age, was made guardian of the kingdom, and brought forward

on all occasions to the great gratification of the people, with whom he was very popular.

Hurried on from one new and dazzling scene to another, and excited by the applause he was continually receiving, little time was left the young prince to reflect upon the position in which he was placed, or to give a thought to the condition of his unhappy father. He did not, however, allow himself to be entirely led away from his duty, but began to have a perception of the real nature of the scenes he was required to sanction.

The Parliament assembled at Westminster, the Prince of Wales taking his place at the head of his peers; and here the king's numerous acts of misgovernment were recounted and denounced, and it was unanimously agreed that he should be deposed, and his eldest son elected king in his stead. The prince, however, resolutely refused the crown, unless his father chose voluntarily to resign it. This conduct created some surprise and great confusion amongst the barons, who were unprepared to meet, in one so young, so much principle and determination. They were obliged to adjourn, and their rebellious and disloyal projects were, for that time, defeated.