was one hardy enough to head them, ran in crowds under his banner, and quickly formed a considerable army. He recovered all the towns the English had taken, and left them only the single town of Berwick. These prosperous successes filled his army with so great admiration of his bravery, that without staying for the usual formalities, he was declared regent of the kingdom. Edward now marched to Scotland with a powerful army, and at Falkirk a bloody battle took place, in which Wallace was defeated; owing to the jealousy of the Scotch lords. Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick, who served in Edward's army, is said to have had a conversation with Wallace, charging him with an ambitious attempt on the crown of ScotJand; Wallace replied, that in taking up arms he was not in the least swayed by ambition: that he acknowledged himself too unworthy of the throne, to dare to look so high: But that his only aim was to free his country, which the great men of the realm suffered to perish by their cowardice. 'Tis said that this reply made such an impression on Bruce's mind, that he burst into tears. Wallace now resigned the regency, but did not cease his utmost exertions to set his country free. Edward was too powerful for the divided Scots, and although it may be justly said, that Scotland was conquered upon this occasion, yet there were in the country, out of the reach of the English arms, certain impenetrable places which afforded a retreat, and sanctuary to those that could not live in slavery, and who were a great help to the restoring the kingdom to its antient liberty. This is what Edward himself in the midst of his successes could not forbear dreading. The rigour with which he treated the brave Wallace, who was betrayed into his hands by errant treachery, is a clear evidence that he did not think the Scots subdued, though he was master of Scotland. To deter them by the punishment of this great man, whom he looked upon as the sole author of their revolt, he caused him to be tried, condemned, and executed as guilty of high trea son, and ordered his four quarters to be hung up in four of the principal towns in the kingdom. They were English judges that pronounced this sentence, though Wallace was a Scotchman, and of the number of those that had never owned the jurisdiction of Edward. ON MR. PECK. Here lies a Peck! which some men say This, wrought with skill divine while fresh, O thou, remov'd from this world's strife, Thy children's sighs unfeign'd ascend; The mourner pity drops a tear, And virtue weeps a vanish'd friend. Teignmouth, Devonshire. In memory of Lucy, fifth daughter of the Hon. Edward If in the tomb deserv'd regrets pursue, Claim from surviving friends the flowing tear; Let not so just a debt be here denied :— Haccombe, Devonshire. On Thomas Carew, Esq. and Anne, his Wife; who died within two days of each other, in December, 1656. Two bodies lie beneath this stone, Whom love and marriage long made one; One soul conjoin'd them by a force Above the pow'r of death's divorce: One flame of love their lives did burn They die, but not depart, who meet Therefore unto one marble trust Stow, Buckinghamshire. ON SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, Who, through perils, was the first of Britons Of the English name. Sir Francis Drake the first Englishman that circumnavigated the globe, and one of the most distinguished seamen that Britain ever produced, was born in the year 1545. His first expedition was against the Spaniards, whom he attacked in their possessions in the Gulph of Mexico, and obtained a considerable booty at Nombre de Dios. After several gallant adventures, he set sail on the 13th of December, 1577, on his famous expedition round the world, and after incountering many dangers arrived sale in England, on the 3d of November, 1580, having per formed his voyage in little more than two years and ten months. Shortly after his arrival, queen Elizabeth went to Deptford, and dined with him on board his ship; when, after dinner, she conferred on him the order of knighthood, and gave direc◄ tions that the vesse!, in which he had endured so many afflic tions, and obtained for his country such immortal honor, should be preserved as a monument of his own and Britain's glory. This celebrated ship was preserved at Deptford for many years; but at length decaying, it was broke up, and a chair made out of the planks was presented to the university of Oxford.-Drake materially assisted at the defeat of the famous Spanish Armada.-Being sent on an expedition to restore Don Antonio, king of Portugal, he failed in that as well as in an attempt on the Spanish settlements in the West Indies; these disappointments preyed upon his spirits and occasioned an illness which terminated his death January 28, 1595-6, on board his own ship, near the town of Nombre de Dios. St. George's, Southwark. ETHELDRED REYNEL, Daughter and sole heir to Sir Edward Peacock, of Finchly, Kt. wife to Sir Reynel, Kt. marshat of the king's-bench, 1618. Modest, humble, godly, wise Pity ever in her eyes, Patience ever in her breast; |