the end, the gathering of the people to Shiloh. Nor are there wanting indications of the approach of the glorious day when "the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their King." A kindlier spirit towards this long-oppressed but venerable race, seems breathed into thousands of Christian hearts. A deeper interest in their spiritual condition is awakened. More vigorous efforts are put forth for their enlightenment and salvation. And the closet and the sanctuary witness more fervent supplications to Heaven on their behalf. In the Jewish mind, also, there is a movement. It is cheering to find a large and influential body of them abandoning the Talmud with its superstitions and puerilities, and denouncing the tradition of the elders, determined only to adhere to Moses and the Prophets;-a great point gained. Many among them feel their spiritual degradation and scores, and even hundreds, flock to Christian Missionaries for instruction. Are not these tokens for good? the first blush, as it were, of the dawn of a day when they shall be emancipated from the thraldom of sin, and by the Son made free indeed? That day will surely come to the scattered and suffering race. Happy, if any who read these lines shall be induced to use augmented effort and to breathe more earnest prayers that its approach may be hastened! Those efforts shall redound to our own unspeakable advantage; and those prayers return into our own bosom, "laden with a blessing and the dew of heaven." "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee." 0 glorious day, when the prejudice of the Jew shall vanish, and the hostility of the Gentile cease; when all alike shall bend in humble faith before the Cross, and all nations shall " walk in the light of the LORD!" "Come, then, thou great Deliverer, come ! The veil from Jacob's heart remove; Receive Thy ancient people home! Birmingham, May 24th, 1850. J. H. A HEART-RENDING REPROOF. A SHORT time since, a lady, who had been remarkable for her thoughtlessness, requested a professedly pious lady to accompany her that day to visit another lady, who was also professedly pious. The afternoon passed away, and the subject of religion was not once mentioned, probably for fear of offending the gay friend who proposed the visit. As the two neighbours walked towards home, the first-mentioned remarked that she had lost the afternoon; for nothing would have induced her to leave home, but the expectation of hearing something about religion. "But," she added, "I came to the conclusion that there is nothing in religion, or that my neighbours do not possess it; for, if they did, they would speak to me about my soul." She said she had been greatly alarmed about herself for several days; but had concluded that afternoon, that, if religion was not worth talking about, it was not worth thinking of. "Never," said the admonished neighbour, "shall I forget that look of despair and reproach. I felt as if I had murdered a soul by my neglect." THE PRINCESSES OF ENGLAND. (Continued from page 709.) WE proceed to furnish for our readers a few more extracts from the volume which is now before us. The first : KNIGHTHOOD CONFERRED BY HENRY I. ON GEOFFRY, EARL OF ANJOU; AND THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL WITH MATILDA, HENRY'S DAUGHTER ; A.D. 1127, or 1128. "Very splendid were the preparations made by the Monarch for the imposing ceremonial of knighting his intended son-in-law, an indispensable preliminary to his marriage, though he had not nearly reached the customary age of twenty-one; nor was it made a matter of less importance by the young Geoffry himself. Accompanied by a train of five Barons and twenty-five noble youths, who were to share his honours, and escorted by a troop of soldiers, he arrived at Rouen, where he was welcomed by several English Lords, who were sent to conduct him to the royal presence. When he entered the hall, the King, contrary to his usual custom, rose to meet him, pressed him in a warm embrace, gave him a paternal kiss, and seated him by his side. He then entered into conversation with him, and proposed many trying questions, all which the youth answered with a skill and readiness of wit that surprised and delighted him. On the dawn of the following morning, the preparations for the important chivalric ceremony commenced. After performing the usual ablutions of the bath, Geoffry put on an under-garment of fine-twined linen, over which was a robe inwrought with gold, and then a superb cloak of the most costly purple; his hose were silken, and he wore boots, on which were engraven, in front, the golden lioncels, his national emblem. His companions, also, were all accoutred, though less gorgeously, in purple and fine linen. After they had received the magic acolado, horses and arms were brought for the newly-created Knights; and putting on a coat of mail, so skilfully made that no lance could pierce it, buckling on his spurs, with a shield round his neck, and a magnificent casque, studded with gems, adorning his brow, the young hero received from his royal father-in-law an antique sword, the workmanship of the celebrated forger, Veland; which,' says our chronicler, had cost him many an hour's labour and sweat;' and, taking his tough ash-spear in his hand, he mounted the superb Spanish war-steed prepared for him, whose swiftness is reported to have outstripped that of the birds themselves; and, surrounded by his young companions, but preeminent among them all, paraded in state the streets of Rouen. The whole of that day, and the following week, were spent in a ceaseless round of festivities. * * * "Henry had determined that the nuptials should take place at Mons, within the domains of Anjou; and thither, accordingly, Earl Foulk proceeded, to be ready to welcome the bridal train, which consisted of the King himself, his daughter, and her elect bridegroom, with an almost interminable suite of Prelates and Barons, who came to be present at the ceremonies. The marriage was solemnised at the celebrated church of St. Julian's, by Turgisius, Bishop of Avranches. As a necessary preliminary, both parties were asked whether the solemn step they were about to take was with their free consent, and both answered in the affirmative; the reluctant bride”—(Matilda was supposed to be attached to her cousin Stephen, after wards King of England)-" having doubtless previously experienced how fruitless would be any attempt at resistance. "Great was the delight of all classes of people on this occasion; entertainments were given on a large scale; and the King caused a proclamation to be set forth, announcing that any person, of whatever age, rank, or degree, who refused to join in the festivities, should be considered as guilty of the crime of lèse majesté. This stern decree brought together so numerous an assemblage, that an opening, or vent-hole, was made in the great hall for the escape of the smoke caused by the torches of the revellers, which still remains as a memorial of this great festival. "After three weeks devoted to feastings and revellings, the company at length broke up. Henry, bestowing an affectionate kiss on his daughter and her spouse, took his departure; and soon after, the young couple, led by Earl Foulk himself, prepared for their entry into Angers, the capital of Anjou. Here, too, they were received with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy: when their cortège was seen approaching, the whole city came forth to meet them; the bells rang their merriest peals; the houses and churches were richly adorned; and a long train of white-robed Priests, bearing tapers and crucifixes, and chanting hymns and songs of joy, went to greet their new lady, and to conduct her to her house. * * "If we may credit the contemporary writers, Matilda's young husband possessed all the personal advantages likely to captivate her regards. Benoit says he was a great Knight, and strong, and handsome, and valiant, and wise, and victorious;' and that there was no Prince more valiant of his rank or importance, either beyond the mountains or in all France.' His figure was slight, but nervous and well proportioned; his complexion rather ruddy, and his eyes full of fire; and he seems to have deserved the surname of Formosus, or le Bel, by which he is frequently distinguished. He was graceful in manners, elegant in language, well read, especially in history, and instructed in Latin; so that he was not at all dismayed, even when he had to bear a part in conversation with the learned.' He was, of course, thoroughly versed in the martial exercises of the day, and passionately fond of field sports. A curious proof of his ardent love of the greenwood is preserved in the name of a long line of English Sovereigns which was derived from the sprig of the yellow broom, planta genista, (the cytisus scoparius of our modern Floras,) with which the young huntsman used to decorate his cap, and thence derived the surname of Plantagenet." (Pp. 108-112.) FLEMISH COSTUME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY. "The Flemish costume, for which the Lady Mary had exchanged her robe of serge and sable veil, as we see it depicted in the seals of her sisterin-law, Margaret, Countess of Flanders and Hainault, and in that of her daughter Ida, was simple and graceful. The hair parted in braids on the forehead, and flowing unconfined down the shoulders, was surmounted by a very small cap, fitting close to the head, bordered with a single row of pearls, and a long veil floating behind. The dress was worn either fulled into a band at the neck, and then flowing in loose folds to the feet, confined only by a girdle at the waist; or else it was of the jacket form, fitting tight to the bust, a little opened at the neck, with a full embroidered skirt, and a long scarf hanging loosely on the shoulders. The former of these was the more ordinary dress; the latter, the costume adopted for riding, which was a favourite exercise of the ladies of that age the falcon perched on the left wrist was the indication of high rank." (P. 201.) DRESS OF MATILda, (eldest dauGHTER OF HENRY II.,) AND OF HENRY THE LION, DUKE OF SAXONY, ON THEIR MARRIAGE AT MINDEN, FEBRUARY 1ST, A.D. 1168. It may be observed that Matilda became by this marriage the direct ancestress of the House of Brunswick: she stands, therefore, in the same relation to the dynasty now reigning in Great Britain. A picture of the marriage-scene was painted at the time, and afterwards hung up in the church of St. Blasius, at Brunswick. "In spite of her juvenility, Matilda is represented as tall and womanly in her appearance; and Henry being young-looking, considering his years, the difference between their ages is less strikingly apparent. The dress worn by the Duke on the important occasion is a richly-embroidered tunic reaching to the ankles, surmounted by a cloak of white satin or velvet, the border all round cut into deep scollops and embroidered, thrown open in front, and having a deep falling cape which covers the waist: on his head is a low cap with a broad band richly set with gems, from the centre of which rise three ostrich-feathers. Matilda's dress is not quite so picturesque her features are remarkably regular and well-formed, but round her face she wears a full white frill, and not a particle of hair is to be seen. A coronet of strawberry-leaves and pearls adorns her brow, from behind which depends a long white veil, wrapped rather ungracefully round her throat and bosom; her under-robe she wears very long, trimmed with fur, and confined at the waist by a narrow zone, and over this a large white mantle of silk or satin, nearly enveloping her person in its folds, finished at the neck by a deep frill. She holds, in the taper fingers of her right hand, the plight-ring, a golden hoop, adorned in the centre with a magnificent brilliant; but she seems much at a loss as to what is to be done with it; while there is a most laughable expression of sentimental devotion in the features and attitude of the gallant bridegroom by her side. Henry is said to have been remarkably handsome, of a fair complexion, but with black hair, dark eyes full of fire, and an animated and expressive countenance; strong and agile in body from his early training; for instead of being brought up in idleness and luxury, he had devoted himself to the active exercises of riding, throwing the dart, and contending with his equals in feats of arms; but still stronger in mind: of a temper modest, yet severe, preferring to be, rather than to appear, good or great.' (P. 225.) The following anecdote illustrates one of the modes in which the nobles were, practically, the oppressors of those subjects of a state who, though the majority in point of numbers, occupied a social position implying not only inferiority, but degradation also. The nobles claimed to be exempt from taxation, and thus threw the support of the state on their inferiors. The pretext was, that they supported the state by their swords; but in this manner all military honours were withheld from those by whom all payments were made. When the prodigality of the French court for the century preceding the revolution of which Louis XVI. and his Queen were the victims had reduced the nation to bankruptcy, nothing exasperated the minds of the multitude more than the existence of such privileged orders. It was this which, more than any other cause, occasioned the eager adoption of those extreme principles of equality the reconciliation of which with the true principles of government seems, not merely from the logical character of the opposition, but from the subsequent history of France, to be impossible. EXEMPTION OF THE OLD SPANISH NOBLES FROM TAXATION. "It was to pay the expenses incurred by this Navarrese war, (about a.d. 1170,) that Alphonso, who, though young, had fully assumed the reins of government, had recourse to an expedient, which, though it proved unsuccessful, reflects the highest honour on his good sense and patriotism. The people of Castile were already over taxed, and yet the royal exchequer was quite inadequate to meet the demands made upon it. Alphonso, therefore, in association with Don Diego Lopez de Haro, one of the most powerful and liberal-minded nobles of his court, concerted a plan for levying an annual tax of five golden maravedis upon the nobility. Accordingly, on the assembling of the Cortes at Cuença, he represented to them in an eloquent harangue, the necessities of the state, and the burdens already borne by the people, and exhorted them in glowing terms to sacrifice a little of their present privilege of freedom from taxation in consideration of their country's weal, which would afterwards redound so much to their own advantage. Sentiments so unusual, uttered in such a style of earnest eloquence, struck the ancient grandees of Spain dumb with surprise. They who had been accustomed to consider themselves as placed quite above the common herd, to be actually called upon to share the burdens of the state with the peasants and burgesses whom they held in such supreme contempt! The thing was not to be thought of for a moment. A general murmur of indignation ran through the assembly, which at length found vent in the vehement remonstrances of Don Nuño, Conde de Lara, who swore that he had rather die for his ancient privileges than tamely yield them up. The whole Cortes joined with him, and the King and his able Minister were obliged to retire, sorrowful and dejected, from an assembly which was too narrow-minded and selfish to be able to chime in with their own liberal and enlightened views. "This scene forms the subject of one of those spirit-stirring Spanish ballads, or rather romances, which, in that land of poetry and song, were ever made the vehicle of strong and passionate feeling, whether that feeling were love or hate, sympathy or indignation, joy or sorrow: the two concluding lines contain a sentiment which it is rather singular to find in the lips of nobles of Spain in the twelfth century, El bien de la libertad Per ningun precio es comprado. 'The blessing of freedom is not to be sold at any price.' But, alas! their ideas of freedom extended no further than their own ranks; for, unless we except the province of Biscay, the common people throughout Spain were strangers to its blessings. The struggle of feeling called forth on this occasion, may be estimated by the fact that the grandees unanimously decreed that an annual festival should be given, at the expense of their body, to the Conde de Lara and his descendants, for the firmness and resolution with which, in this unexpected emergency, he had stood up in defence of their rights, at a time when the amazement with which the deliberate old nobles had been seized by the propositions of the King quite incapacitated them from acting." (P. 272.) Mrs. Green is not so accurate as usual in saying that the common people throughout Spain, except in Biscay, were strangers to freedom. It is a singular fact, that at one time the constitutions of the Spanish kingdoms were more favourable to liberty than those of any other European country. |