THOMAS HOLCROFT.

HOLCROFT, THOMAS, an English dramatist and novelist; born in London, December 10 (0. S)., 1745; died there, March 23, 1809. His father was a shoemaker and keeper of a livery-stable, and the son was his assistant. In time he became trainer of a race-horse at Newmarket, was subsequently a schoolmaster, and finally went upon the stage. He wrote some thirty plays, the best known of which is "The Road to Ruin;" four novels, the best of which is "Hugh Trevor," in which he depicted the vices and distresses which he conceived to be generated by the existing institutions of society; and a volume of autobiographical "Memoirs," which were edited by William Hazlitt, and posthumously published in 1816.

The lawyer lives under the hill,
Gaffer Gray;

Warmly fenced both in back and in front.
"He will fasten his locks,

And will threaten the stocks,

Should he ever more find me in want,
Well-a-day!"

The squire has fat beeves and brown ale,
Gaffer Gray;

And the season will welcome you there.
"His beeves and his beer,

And his merry new year,

Are all for the flush and the fair,

Well-a-day!"

My keg is but low, I confess,

Gaffer Gray;

What then? While it lasts, man, we 'll live.

RAPHAEL HOLINGSHEAD.

HOLINGSHEAD, RAPHAEL, an early English chronicler; probably born at Sutton Downs, Cheshire, at an uncertain date; died about 1580. Very little is known of his early history, though he is said. to have been educated at Cambridge. Early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth he entered the service of Reginald Wolfe, a London printer, as translator. About 1548 Wolfe, having inherited Leland's notes, designed a universal history. He started work on the portions devoted to England, Scotland, and Ireland, in which he was assisted by Holingshead and Lucas Harrison. After twenty-five years of labor on this great work Wolfe died, leaving the work far from ready for publication. His successors continued the work, and on July 1, 1578, license to print "Raphael Holingshead's Cronycle" was issued to John Harrison and George Bishop.

MACBETH'S WITCHES.

(From the "Chronicles.")

SHORTLY after happened a strange and uncouth wonder, which afterward was the cause of much trouble in the realm of Scotland, as ye shall after hear. It fortuned as Makbeth and Banquho journeyed towards Fores, where the King then lay, they went sporting by the way together without other company save only themselves, passing through the woods and fields, when suddenly in the middest of a laund there met them three women in strange and wild apparel, resembling creatures of the elder world, whom when they attentively beheld, wondering much at the sight, the first of them spake and said:

"All hail Makbeth, thane of Glammis!"

(For he had lately entered into that office by the death of his father Sinell.) The second of them said:

"Hail Makbeth, thane of Cawder!"

"All hail Makbeth, that hereafter shall be King of Scotland!"

Then Banquho: "What manner of women" (saith he)" are you that seem so little favorable unto me, whereas to my fellow here, besides high offices, ye assign also the kingdom, appointing forth nothing for me at all?" "Yes" (saith the first of them), 66 we promise greater benefits unto thee than unto him: for he shall reign indeed, but with an unlucky end; neither shall he leave any issue behind him to succeed in his place; when certainly thou indeed shalt not reign at all, but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the Scottish kingdom by long order of continual descent." Herewith the fore said women vanished immediately out of their sight. This was reputed at the first but some vain fantastical illusion by Makbeth and Banquho, insomuch that Banquho would call Makbeth in jest, King of Scotland, and Makbeth again would call him in sport likewise, father of many kings. But afterwards the common opinion was, that these women were either the weird sisters, that is (as ye would say) the goddesses of destiny, or else some nymphs or fairies, indued with knowledge of prophecie by their necromantical science, because everything came to pass as they had spoken.

THE MURDER OF THE YOUNG PRINCES.

(From the "Chronicles.")

KING Richard after his coronation, taking his way to Glouces ter to visit (in his new honor) the town of which he bare the name of his old, devised (as he rode) to fulfil the things which he before had intended. And forsomuch that his mind gave him, that his nephews living, men would not reckon that he could have right to the realm; he thought therefore without delay to rid them, as though the killing of his kinsmen could amend his cause and make him a kindly king. Whereupon he sent one Sir John Greene (whom he specially trusted) to Sir Robert Brackenbury, Constable of the Tower, with a letter and credence also, that the same Sir Robert should in any wise put the children to death.

Sir John Greene did his errand unto Brackenbury, kneeling before our Lady in the Tower, who plainly answered that he would never put them to death to die therefore. With which answer John Greene returning, recounted the same to King Richard at Warwick yet in his way. Wherewith he took such displeasure and thought, that the same night he said unto a secret page of his "Ah, whom shall a man trust? Those that I have