most as a bulwark of our personal and political liberties. And it is well known that in lands where none take part in the administration of justice but those who are appointed by and represent the supreme governor, there is great danger of justice being perverted.

Those who act as jurymen, therefore, have very important duties to perform. For while the presiding judge has to decide all points of law, it is their province to determine on all questions of fact; and of facts, twelve honest and attentive men are generally well able to decide.

Provision, moreover, is made by our law against the abuse even of "trial by jury." In the first place, should a jury decide that a person is guilty or not guilty, plainly contrary to the evidence, such person may, by appeal, obtain a new trial. And, on the other hand, where there is likely to be great local prejudice either for or against the accused, the case may, by arrangement, be tried in a locality where no such prejudice exists.

And still further, though in ordinary times, trial by jury can be claimed by every one, yet in special circumstances, when juries are found refusing to convict for certain offences, the Crown can suspend the Act of Habeas Corpus, and thus enable justice to be administered without the intervention of a jury.

Another way in which well-nigh all grown-up men may aid to maintain the state in its integrity is by the exercise of the franchise. Most men who are steady and industrious, by renting a house or part of a house, are allowed to vote for members of parliament. And they also have votes in the election of town councillors, school board members, and other officials.

Now, in these cases it is very important that the vote

given should be based upon a calm and unprejudiced opinion as to who is the best candidate for the post. To give a vote for a bribe in any such case is mean, selfish, and unworthy of the trust given; and in addition, is contrary to the law of the land. How wrong it is, will be seen in a moment, if we only just consider what must happen if such bribery became common. In that case only rich and bad men could hold any elective office. But bad men would make laws for their own selfish ends, and very soon all those glorious liberties we possess, and which our fathers worked and fought for, we should lose. England in such case would sink in the scale of nations; and would, deservedly, become a reproach, as a nation that had sold its glorious birthright for a miserable mess of pottage.

To prevent so sad an issue, provision is made here also for the application of the principle that we have already seen operative with regard to individuals. That is, when it has been clearly proved that a community in a borough or county has become so corrupt that votes are to any large extent given dishonestly, then that borough or community loses its liberty to vote altogether. And in this loss the innocent suffer with the guilty, thereby carrying out the principle of frank-pledge, whereby each becomes answerable for, and therefore interested in, the right doing of his fellow-citizens. Thus, it is good national policy, not only to be honest one's self, but to cultivate honesty in one's neighbours.

EXERCISES.-I. Define,-Anthem, suggests, preserve, magistrate, responsible, cherished, provision, and industrious. 2. Give three or four reasons for the loyalty of the English. 3. Name some ways in which grown-up persons generally may help to maintain the integrity of the State. 4. Show the effects of bribery and corruption (a) to the borough or other constituency, (b) to the country at large. 5. Write out the National Anthem from memory.

CHEVY CHACE.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

THIS old ballad is generally accepted as founded upon a hunting expedition that led to the battle of Otterburn, in the Cheviot district, in 1388. There is a ballad so founded, without doubt, but it is properly called the "Battle of Otterburn," and begins thus :"It fell about the Lammas tide: " of this there are two versions, one Scotch and one English.

The Chevy Chace, as here given, is from Bishop Percy's "Reliques," and was undoubtedly founded upon a later incident, and written at a later date; probably it first took a written form at the end of the reign of Elizabeth. The exact date of the incident it is difficult, if not impossible, to give with certainty. In the ballad itself, James (I.) is spoken of as King of Scotland, and Henry (VI.) of England; and, moreover, the battle of Homildon Hill is given as a subsequent event. Now, as this battle was in 1402, and James I of Scotland began his reign in 1406, the Chevy Chace must have taken place either after that affair at Homildon Hill, or James was not reigning. The most probable solution of the dilemma is, that in the course of transcription James came to be substituted for Robert. We may reasonably conclude then that the fray took place during the reigns of Robert III. of Scotland and Henry VI. of England, and the time very early in the 15th century.

Fallow deer, yellow deer.

Hap, lot, fortune.

Squire, an attendant upon a knight.

Gore, clotted blood.

Ransom, a payment for another's
freedom.

Proffer, to offer to acceptance.
Mischance, an ill event.

Brinish, salt, painful.

Hart, the he-deer, or stag.
Gallant, brave, noble.
Valiant, full of courage.
Tempered, brought to a right
degree of hardness.

Redoubted, dreadful to foes.
Vehement, violent.

Revenged, injury paid by injury.

God prosper long our noble king,

Our lives and safeties all;

A woeful hunting once there did
In Chevy Chace befall :

To drive the deer with hound and horn

Earl Percy took his way:

The child may rue that is unborn

The hunting of that day.

The stout Earl of Northumberland
A vow to God did make,

His pleasure in the Scottish woods
Three summer days to take :

The chiefest harts in Chevy Chace
To kill and bear away ;-
These tidings to Earl Douglas came,
In Scotland where he lay :

Who sent Earl Percy present word
He would prevent his sport: "
The English earl not fearing that,
Did to the woods resort,

With fifteen hundred bowmen bold,
All chosen men of might:
Who knew full well, in time of need,
To aim their shafts aright.

The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran,
To chase the fallow deer;
On Monday they began the hunt,
When daylight did appear;

And long before high moon, they had
A hundred fat bucks slain;
Then, having dined, the drovers went

To rouse the deer again.

The bowmen mustered on the hills,

Well able to endure;

And all their rear, with special care,

That day was guarded sure.

The hounds ran swiftly through the woods, The nimble deer to take,

And with their cries the hills and dales
An echo shrill did make.

Lord Percy to the quarry went,
To view the slaughtered deer;
Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promised
This day to meet me here:

"But if I thought he would not come,
No longer would I stay."-
With that, a brave young gentleman
Thus to the earl did say:

"Lo! yonder doth Earl Douglas come,
His men in armour bright;
Full twenty hundred Scottish spears,
All marching in our sight;

"All men of pleasant Tividale,

Fast by the river Tweed."

"Then cease your sports," Earl Percy said, "And take your bows with speed:

"And now with me, my countrymen,
Your courage forth advance;
For never was there champion yet,
In Scotland or in France,

"That ever did on horseback come,
But if my hap it were,

I durst encounter, man for man,
With him to break a spear."

Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed,
Most like a baron bold,

Rode foremost of the company,

Whose armour shone like gold,