in the Catalogue of Noble Authors. William Caxton, Mercer of London, the first Printer, (practised his Art in Westminster Abbey, 1471). Jane Shore.

COTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS.

Popes.

Pius II. 1458. Paul II. 1464. Sextus IV. 1471

Emperors.

Of Germany-Frederic II. 1440.

Of the Turks.-Mahomet II. 1453. Bajazet II. 1481.

Kings.

Of France.-Louis EX. 1461.

Of Portugal.-Alphonsus V. 1438. John II. 1481.
Of Denmark

and Christian I. 1440. John I. 1481. Sweden.

Of Scotland.-James III. 1460.

HOUSE

HOUSE OF YORK.

EDWARD THE FOURTH.*

"I've kiss'd and I've prattled with fifty fair maids." MRS. BROOKES.

"And now what rests but that we spend our time
"With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shews,
"Such as befit the pleasures of the court."

SHAKESPEARE.

"He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber,
"To the lascivious pleasing of a lute."

IBID.

KING EDWARD was handsome, was gay, debonair, His foes found him warlike, abroad in the field; When he conquer'd the brave, he could vanquish the fair,

And to beauty in turn was too oft known to yield.

Yet some time elapsed e're his festival reign Was permitted to revel in safety and peace;

* It is observed by Hume and others, that scarcely two historians agree as to the dates of circumstances occuring in this reign.

For

For HENRY yet claimed his paternal domain, Nor did MARGARET's praise-worthy energies

cease.

By succour assisted from Scotland and France, Once more with her boy against YORK she makes head;

And the banner of HENRY is seen to advance

By the QUEEN, LA VARENNE* and bold SOMERSET led.

At Hexham the Marquis of MONTAGUE meets
The heroine, true to her sovereign lord;
And spite of it's valour, her army defeats,
When happy the soldier who 'scapes from his
sword.

Deserted, on foot, o'er the desolate wild,

No roof to preserve from a storm-boding sky, Poor MARGARET wanders; and presses her child To a bosom half bursting with agony's sigh.

*Seneschal of Normandy.

And

And "is there no help!" cried the sorrowing Queen,

"For the son of a father so mild and so good? "No cottage to shield from the night blast so keen,

"No guard to protect from the bands of the wood?

"In battle these nerves were with fortitude braced, "And for thee, dearest boy, cou'd each danger

despise ;

"Now foil'd and defeated, proscribed and disgraced,

"The woman returns and the heroine flies."

"You fly not by heaven," exclaim'd an unknown, " "Till your wealth I'm possess❜d of whate'er

your degree;

"The world is my kingdom, this forest my throne, "None pass it unless they pay tribute to me.

"Deceit of false friends while prosperity smiled, "Despoil'd me of all I had power to give; "Now just retribution for kindness beguil❜d, "Demands in return, on mankind I should

live.

"They

"They call me a robber, the proud ones who dare "To plunder their Sov'reign, his child, and his wife;

"Of his crown they King HENRY to rob did'n't

spare,

"Yet for poor crowns that I seize the law takes my life.

"No words then, your riches my risk must repay,

"Their wealth all bear with them in times

such as these;

"Yours seems to add weight to the cares of the way,

"And what gives you such pain, I can carry with ease.

The boy in her mantle she closely had prest, Now close and more close, as the savage drew nigh;

And thinking some treasure she clasp'd to her breast,

He seiz'd her, while she, with hysterical cry:

"Intruder! the son of your master respect, "The offspring of HENRY the mild and the

good;

"His