a sad spectacle of sorrow," says Froude, "had been witnessed on that tragic spot, but never one more sad than this; never one more painful to think or speak of."

The harsh treatment of Fisher does not seem to have terminated with his existence. His head, with its reverend white hairs, was seen set up over London Bridge, and with exquisite brutality, the face turned towards the Kentish hills where his best years had been spent, whilst the mutilated body of this ancient friend of the king's family, this accomplished restorer of ancient learning, whose excellence as a Christian priest was without spot-was exposed naked upon the scaffold to the vulgar gaze, from the time he suffered (10 a.m.) till 8 o'clock at night, when two watchmen hoisted it upon their halberts and carried it into Barking churchyard, where they tumbled it into a grave, coffinless and shroudless.

Many have been the biographies written of this great and good prelate, by whose birth Beverley received an imperishable honour, but by far the most exhaustive is that by the gifted authoress of "Florence O'Neil' Miss Agnes Stewart. Before concluding, we will make a brief extract from this valuable work, relative to the final resting place of the mutilated body of the good bishop. "It is generally supposed," says Miss Stewart, "that the headless remains of the bishop ultimately rested beside those of his friend and fellow-sufferer, Sir Thomas More, in the chapel on Tower Green; there is strong reason, however, for believing that such

was not the case. The holy prelate was no less loved than venerated by the people of Rochester. Can it be supposed they would willingly allow his remains to lay a single day longer than could be avoided in that unhallowed grave, in the churchyard of All Hallows, Barking. As Margaret Roper, by bribery or otherwise, managed to procure the head of her beloved father, so that it might be buried with her own remains in Canterbury Cathedral, so no doubt the devoted flock at Rochester managed to procure surreptitiously the headless body of the saintly cardinal-bishop." In a letter to Miss Stewart, Mr. Geo. Arnold, of Milton Hall, Gravesend, says he remembers, as a boy, a Purbeck marble slab in the nave of Rochester Cathedral, which had an ill-defined incision upon its upper surface resembling an axe, such as a headman would use; and the popular report was that under that stone the remains of the saintly bishop (minus his head) were finally interred.

Baker, the Cambridge Antiquary, a Fellow of St. John's College, was at great pains to obtain an authentic portrait of Fisher. The following lines were written by him on receiving a copy of the original picture :

"Welcome from exile, happy soul, to me,

And to these walls that owe their rise to thee.

Too long thou'rt banished hence, by shame disgracet,

Thy arms thrown down, thy monument defacet,

Thy bounties great, like thee, involved in night,

Till some bold hand shall bravely give them light.
Too long oppress'd by force and power unjust,

Thy blood a sacrifice to serve a lust.

In vain proud Herod bids thee be forgot:

Thy name shall brightly shine while his shall rot."

THE EJECTED NONCONFORMIST MINISTERS.

1662.

MMEDIATELY after the death of Oliver Cromwell the Protectorate broke down under his son Richard, and confusion became more confounded. The army was unsettled, the Parliament divided, the republic was discouraged, trade decayed and the exchequer empty. The majority of the nation were weary of ideal republics, and desired a change, and by the spring of 1660 public feeling was strongly in favour of the restoration of Charles II.

While yet at Breda, in Brabant, watching the progress of negociations as seriously as was compatible with the levity of his dispositon, the exiled monarch sent forth a royal declaration promising-among other things--such liberty to tender consciences that no man should be called in question for religious opinions which did not disturb the peace of the kingdom. This declaration excited much hope. It was at once resolved that Charles should be invited to England, and a deputation was appointed by the parliament and the city of London to attend him on his return from Holland.

Within a fortnight he was restored to the throne of his ancestors amidst the ringing of bells, the thunder of cannon, and other tokens of general rejoicing. On

this occasion Beverley followed the current of the rest of the kingdom, and united in the expression of general joy, which, says Burnet, "the whole nation was drunk and mad with for three years together." Amongst the Corporation Records are the following items :-" May 12th, King Charles II. proclaymed. Ten shillings to each warden of every company to spend amongst them for the solemnization of this day."

"Also given to the constables 10s. each .........vl. xs. To Mr. Nuggs, paid him for expenses

.......

xxijl. viijs. iiijd.

at the king's proclamation ... To the ringers at the king's coming [landing]...............xvjs. To the ringers at the proclamation..................xvjs.” No one can doubt that the restoration of Charles II. was immensely popular with the nation at large, and especially with the numerous religious sects, each of whom expected to reap some special privilege thereby. The Roman Catholics thought themselves entitled to some consideration, inasmuch as they had been amongst the most strenuous of the late king's adherents, and the greatest sufferers for their loyalty. Out of 500 gentlemen who lost their lives in the royal cause, more than one third were of that religion. Their estates had been selected for confiscation when others had been permitted to compound. They had also proved themselves friends, staunch and true, to the exiled son, whom they had, at the risk of life and property, succoured and protected when fleeing from the bloodthirsty parliamentarians. The Independents, Baptists, and Quakers asked only for toleration; while the Epis

copalians and Presbyterians each expected to receive royal favours innumerable.

All seemed therefore to be unanimous and jubilant, though they differed in the manner in which they gave expression to their feelings. The Catholics were moderate in their rejoicing, the Episcopalians cautious and quiet; while the Presbyterians were wild with exultation. They forgot not only themselves but their liberties, their controversies, their sufferings, and even their covenant in their newly-excited loyalty. Cromwell had offended this body beyond forgiveness by frustrating their schemes for ecclesiastical domination, and they now, with all his debauched habits, welcomed back the Stuart. They hated bishops, by whom they were likely soon to be governed, but they hated Baptists more than bishops, and Quakerism more than prelacy, and Catholicism more than all. It is not pleasant to attribute the exultation of these good ministers to a vindictive spirit, but it is not easy to find any other cause for its extravagance than the fall of the sectaries by whom they had been more frightened than injured. They again looked forward to a modified National Church in which they might retain their livings and probably regain their coveted ascendency. They were assured, not merely of toleration, but indulgence for tender consciences. Had not the king promised thus much in the declaration from Breda, which he signed with his own hand? Their joy was great when ten of their number were appointed Court Chaplains, and greater still when they knew that five bishoprics were kept open for them.