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and LYCIDAS! What is his answer to this affecting appeal? To this "solitary prayer of the desolate King (supposing it written by him *), deprived of Morley-of Hammond-of those from whom he had received the language of compassion and spiritual comfort? What? not one word of commiseration?- of respect ?-for men of at least

* It was many years since I read the Icon. I looked at it whilst engaged in this work. The moment I came to this Prayer, I said, "This is by another hand!" Mr. Todd has since informed me that Gauden acknowledged it to be written by DUPPA. But the King kept a Diary, and composed some Prayers. Mr. Todd has clearly established the fact that he did not write the Meditations and Prayers, as they now stand in the Icon: but some prayers he wrote, and some journal of his miserable days. Can we determine that nothing of his own writing, however disfigured, appears in this portraiture? I am inclined to think the real truth will be found in Kennet's account, that "the papers written in the King's hand were entrusted to an Essex minister, of Rayne, Mr. Edward Symmons, to convey them to a printer. He committed them to his neighbour." This neighbour was Gauden, Rector of Bocking, the next parish to Rayne. We learn no more, nor how Kennet came to the knowledge of such a circumstance. But let us see if this short account might not receive some unexpected corroboration.

Where is Rayne situated? Certainly, near Bocking. But is not-and most material is this unexpected fact the parish in which was situated the old ancestral mansion, RAYNE HALL, the seat of the Capels? belonging to that Lord Capel, the most faithful and confidential servant of his oppressed Master? Is it not probable, taking this unexpected circumstance into consideration, that some of the King's papers were intrusted to Lady Capel, and Lord Capel being in prison, that

blameless lives

of learning and of piety though of a different school from his own? Hear, admirers of Christian toleration: "Cry him up" (ye Chaplains!)" cry him up for a SAINT in your PULPITS, whilst he cries you down, for ATHEISTS, INTO HELL!" What must be that system which could thus level a noble mind, and turn the author of "PARADISE LOST" into a brutal railer? And yet he could talk of " detractions rude" against King Cromwell!

they were confided by Lady Capel to the person mentioned, Minister of the parish?

Rayne Hall being in the parish of Rayne, we might surely be disposed to agree with Kennet, who says, "that he, Mr. SYMMONS, MINISTER OF RAYNE, being interrupted by the troubles of the times, committed them to his neighbour Dr. Gauden, who, being a man of a luxurious fancy, could not let them pass through his hands without amendments and additions: he got some chapters to be added by another hand. He himself threw in the ejaculations and devotions, or most of them." (Kennet, quoted from Todd.) What he "threw in," we cannot tell, but it appears to me there is as much difference in the authorship, of particular passages, as between Shakspeare and IRELAND'S tawdry fabrication! * some passages being natural and pathetic as the Prayer on parting with his Chaplains-his directions to his son, &c.; and others artificial, antithetic, elaborate, and most affected.

In the Shakspeare which Charles gave to Sir Thomas Herbert, now in the King's library, appear the words, in Charles's own hand, "Dum spiro spero."

to sup

In the many hours of lonely solicitude and sorrow, pose that he who loved Shakspeare and Tasso he who was so

well versed in the Scriptures-he who kept a Diary-he who

* Vortigern and Rowena.

Nothing but a cold, unnatural, theoretic system, at war with common sense, the kindest sympathies

composed some Prayers to suppose, in such a situation, such a person should not have sought relief in committing to paper his solitary meditations, seems impossible.

Morley might have been convinced that the Meditations, as they now appear, were not the King's, and, as Gauden claimed them, he had no power to contradict him; but did he ever show Gauden any respect?

I have ventured to say thus much on a subject of interesting inquiry; and if I, who know so much less of the subject, differ at all from my friend Mr. Todd, I need not say, it is with the greatest respect and deference.

The information I have received, since the above was written, from Mr. Alexander, the present Curate of Rayne, is so decisive and so unexampled a corroboration of my ideas, and of Kennet's cursory remarks, that I submit it to the reader, as, in my opinion, decisive of my view of the question of the Icon, I could indeed venture to mark the passages written by the King, and those by Gauden.

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Rayne Hall is in the parish of Rayne, situated adjoining the churchyard, and is now occupied as a farm-house by Mr. Rolfe, tenant to the Earl of Essex, who is also possessed of Rayne Lodge in this parish, and partly in the parish of Bocking The two farms contain upwards of 800 acres, and have been in the Capel family since the time of Queen Elizabeth. I cannot find any positive proof of any part of the family being there, 1648, but I think it most probable; as in a book containing entries of several Rectors from 1611, there is entered in 1624, 'small tythes, for Sr Arthur's Hope, 1s.' In the same book: Dr. Mott dyed an. 1630. Sr ARTHUR CAPELL gave mee the presentation to the parsonage of Rayne, upon the 30 day of Decemb. 1630, Mr. SYMONS.'

of the heart, I might say, the voice of Heaven itself, in the Scripture, could so sear all Christian feelings, as to allow any one to speak with such reckless insult of exemplary and pious characters. And what must be that system which could so deaden to its core the heart, and thus palsy the native, generous feelings of the high-minded Milton! *

When the King was in the hands of the Army, his chaplains Sheldon and Hammond were again admitted at Hampton Court. This circumstance is remarkable, as it shows Morley was at a distance.

In company with his favourite Hammond, uncle to that Colonel Hammond under whose care he was

The right honble the Lady Capell gave mee the presentation to the Rectory of Raine in Essex the 5 day of June 1649.' "In the register of baptisms are entered:

1634. Feb. 12. Mary, the daughter of Edward and Hellen Symons.

1637. Edward, son of Edward and Hellen Symons, bapt. Mar. 25.

1639. Arethusa Symons, daughter of Edward and Hellen, bapt. Nov. 2."

1641. Henry Symons, son of Edward Symons, rector, and Hellen. bapt. March 3.

Mr. Symons appears to have continued rector until 1649; and had been long dead when Gauden made his claim to the whole work.

* Magnificent as Milton's poetry is, to which none have done more justice than those whom his fiery declamation most insulted, I do not recollect one passage of commiseration, like those which charm us in Cowper-with such stern stuff, after his first ingenuous feelings, did the genius of republican Puritanism envelope him.

placed in the Isle of Wight, Charles almost forgot how long he had been bereaved of his wife and children. The Army, in this respect, were, in appearance, far more merciful and kind than the implacable Covenanters had been-but they exhibited only the perfidy and play of the tiger towards their deluded and helpless victim. At Newmarket the Chaplains were again admitted, and, soon afterwards, the forlorn Monarch heard, with tears of rapture, the voices of his children, and bent over them, with the paternal blessings of a bursting heart.

This was the sunshine of hope and tenderness for a moment, on the most desolate of human kind! In the Isle of Wight, even those faithful attendants whom, in the kindness of his heart, though in the deepest dejection, he never failed to address more in the endearing familiarity of a friend than master were now shut out.

The last time Morley * appeared with the King was, when he was sent for by Charles, altered sadly in appearance, in his last extremity of hope, to assist at the treaty in the Isle of Wight. "He was sadly altered in countenance," Clarendon remarks, "and his hair quite grey." That he was sadly altered in countenance, who would be disposed to

* It is remarkable that the King, being allowed by the Parliament at the treaty to consult his Chaplains, did not at first fix on Morley, probably for reasons we have given; but in his next address to Parliament-that Parliament calling itself "dutiful and loyal!!"-Morley is required by the King. Papers.)

(State