utterly extinguished, I will proceed to direct your attention to the circumstances which led on to the denouement of this tragedy of real life. And here I will derive my narrative from a remarkable tract, published in the year 1553, by an eye-witness—a foreigner, and probably one of the German or Flemish exiles who had taken refuge in England, under the protection accorded by Edward VI—a tract of which a copy, presumed to be unique, was possessed by my late friend Mr. Inglis (whose library was so well known as probably the richest in England in such rarities), and was by him translated and printed. This writer, after describing the death of Edward VI under circumstances which could not but lead to the suspicion of poison, proceeds thus:—
"The suspicion, as well as the chief repute of so great a crime, fall upon John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, whose father was beheaded by Henry VIII, and whose son Guldeford was at this time married to Jane, grand-daughter of Mary, youngest sister of Henry VIII, and daughter of Frances, Mary's eldest daughter. This John Dudley, after the death of his father, being deprived of all succession, property, and dignity, addicted himself to

the military profession, in which he proved himself a valiant man, surpassing others; being noted everywhere, and at last also becoming endeared to the King himself, who created him first a Baron, afterwards an Earl, and at last (as he was one of the twelve guardians of the young King appointed by his father) made him Duke of Northumberland. Having thus obtained the highest offices, without trouble; being agitated by vindictive feelings against the royal children, on account of their father; and being stimulated by the motive of transferring the royal dignity to himself and his own family; he first of all caused the Duke of Somerset (the uncle of King Edward), who was called the Protector, to be convicted under a false charge of treason; making the young King believe that he was legally put to death. This most faithful guardian of the King being thus removed, the said Dudley doubted not that when he had given Jane in marriage to his son, the kingdom, by some colour or pretence of legitimate succession, might easily be transferred to his daughter-in-law upon the death of Edward VI."