ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS 223
named Lord Beauehamp, the heir to the Suffolk claim, as a possible
successor. " I will have no rogue's son," she cried hoarsely, " in my
seat." But she gave no sign, save a motion of the head, at the
mention of the King of Scots. She was in fact fast becoming insen-
sible ; and early the next morning the life of Elizabeths a life so great,
so strange and lonely in its greatness, passed quietly away.
John Richard Green in hu "Short History
The Schoolmaster to the Young Gentlemen of E>ngland
IT is your shame (I speak to you all, you young gentlemen of Eng-
land) that one maid should go beyond you all in excellency of
learning and knowledge of divers tongues. Point forth six of the
best given gentlemen of this court and all they together show not as
much goodwill, spend not so much time, bestow not so many hours
(daily, orderly, and constantly) for the increase of learning and know-
ledge as doth the Queen's Majesty herself.
Yea, I believe that, beside her perfect readiness in Latin, Italian,
French, and Spanish, she readeth here now at Windsor more Greek
every day than some Prebendary of this church doth read Latin in a
whole week.
Among all the benefits God hath blessed me with, next the know-
ledge of Christ's true religion I count this the greatest—that it pleased
God to call me, one poor minister, in setting forward these excellent
gifts of learning in this most excellent prince, whose example, if the
rest of our nobility would follow, then might England be in learning
and wisdom a spectacle to all the world.
Roger Ascham on Queen Elizabeth
Carry No Tales
r^ARBY no tales, be no common teller of news, be not inquisitive of
V^r other men's talk, for those that are desirous to hear what they
need not, commonly be ready to babble what they should not.
Roger Ascham
Martin Luther Can Do No Other
IT was not the thought that he would be condemned and led to the
stake that shook the Reformer on the morning of his second
appearance before the Imperial Diet. It was something more terrible
than to die. The crisis had come and he felt unable to meet it. Let
us draw near:
0 God, my God, hearest thou my need ? I am ready to lay down my
life for thy truth. I will never separate myself from ihee, though the
world should be filled with devilsy though my body should be slain, should
be racked on the wheel.