He was not only learned in the tongues, and other liberal sciences, but knew well the state of his kingdom. He kept a book, in which he wrote the characters that were given him of all the chief men of the nation, all the judges, lord-lieutenants, and justices of the peace over England: in it he had marked down their way of living, and their zeal for religion. He had studied the matter of the mint, with the exchange and value of money; so that he understood it well, as appears by his journal. He also understood fortification, and designed well. He knew all the harbours and ports, both of his own dominions, and of France and Scotland; and how much water they had, and the way of coming into them. He had acquired great knowledge of foreign affairs; so that he talked with the ambassadors about them in such a manner that they filled all the world with the highest opinion of him that was possible; which appears in most of the histories of that age. He had great quickness of apprehension; and being mistrustful of his memory, used to take notes of almost everything he heard; he wrote these first in Greek characters, that those about him might not understand them; and afterwards wrote them out in a journal. He had a copy by him of everything that passed in council, which he put in a chest, and kept the key of that always himself.

HOME AND CLASS WORK.

Learn the spellings and meanings at the top of the page; and write sentences containing these words.

God prosper long our noble king,
Our lives and safeties all;

A woeful hunting once there did
In Chevy Chase befall:

To drive the deer with hound and horn,
Earl Percy took his way;

The child may rue that is unborn
The hunting of that day.

The stout Earl of Northumberland
A vow to God did make,
His pleasure in the Scottish woods
Three summer days to take;
The chiefest harts in Chevy Chase
To kill and bear away.

This tidings to Earl Douglas came,
In Scotland where he lay;
Who sent Earl Percy present word,
He would prevent his sport.
The English Earl, not fearing that,
Did to the woods resort,

With fifteen hundred bowmen bold;
All chosen men of might,

Who knew full well, in time of need,
To aim their shafts aright.

The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran,
To chase the fallow-deer:
On Monday they began to hunt,
Ere daylight did appear;

And long before high noon they had
An hundred fat bucks slain;
Then having dined, the drovers went
To rouse the deer again.

The bowmen mustered on the hills,
Well able to endure;

Their hinder parts, with special care,
That day were guarded sure.

The hounds ran swiftly through the woods
The nimble deer to take,

That with their cries the hills and dales
An echo shrill did make.

Lord Percy to the quarry went,

To view the slaughtered tleer;
Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promised
This day to meet me here;

But if I thought he would not come,
No longer would I stay."
With that a brave young gentleman
Thus to the Earl did say :

"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,
His men in armour bright;
Full twenty hundred Scottish spears
All marching in our sight;

All men of pleasant Teviotdale,
Fast by the river Tweed."—

"O cease your sport," Earl Percy said,
"And take your bows with speed:

And now with me, my countrymen,
Your courage forth advance
For never was there champion yet,
In Scotland or in France,

That ever did on horseback come,
But if my hap it were,

I durst encounter man for man,
With him to break a spear."

Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed,
Most like a baron bold,
Rode foremost of his company,

Whose armour shone like gold.

"Show me," saith he, "whose men you be, That hunt so boldly here;

That without my consent do chase
And kill my fallow-deer?"

The man that first did answer make
Was noble Percy he;

Who said, "We list not to declare,
Nor show whose men we be :

Yet will we spend our dearest blood
Thy chiefest harts to slay."
Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,
And thus in rage did say:

"Ere thus will 1 out-bravéd be,
One of us two must die!

I know thee well, an earl thou art;
Lord Percy, so am I,

But trust me, Percy, pity 'twere
And great offence to kill
Any of these our guiltless men,

For they have done no ill.

Let thou and I the battle try,
And set our men aside."-
"Accurst be he," Earl Percy said,
"By whom this is denied."

Then stepped a gallant squire forth,
Witherington was his name,
Who said, 66 I would not have it told
To Henry our king, for shame,

That ere my captain fought on foot,
And I stood looking on.

You be two earls," said Witherington
And I a squire alone :

I'll do the best that do I may,
While I have power to stand:
While I have power to wield my sword,
I'll fight with heart and hand.”

Our English archers bent their bows,
Their hearts were good and true;
At the first flight of arrows sent,
Full fourscore Scots they slew.
Yet bides Earl Douglas on the bent,
As chieftain stout and good,
As valiant captain all unmoved
The shock he firmly stood.

His host he parted had in three,
As leader ware and tried;
And soon his spearmen on their foes
Bore down on every side.

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