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136 where his rapid progress in knowledge excited much admiration. Having been some time employed in public affairs, he quitted them in order to travel abroad for further improvement. After he had travelled so far as the Holy Land, he came to Italy, where he resided three years, and devoted himself entirely to the pursuit of letters. Horace Walpole remarks, that whatever disputes there may be about his titles in the state, there is no doubt but he was anciently at the head of literature, and so masterly an orator, that when upon a visit to Rome, he drew tears of joy from the eyes of pope Pius II. (the celebrated Eneas Sylvius,)* through a curiosity of the Vati- can library. He expended large sums in collect- ing books ; and upon his return to England he presented as many writings and books to the university of Oxford, which had cost him five hundred marks, upwards £330 a large sum at this period. The light in which he is now only known to us by his own works, is that of a trans- lator; and from his choice in this respect it appears that he had a classical knowledge and taste. Of his original productions no more than a few letters and small pieces are remaining in manuscript. From certain rules, orders, and statutes, which he drew up, by the king's com- mandment, when constable of England, it is evident that he was well acquainted with the regulations and laws which respected justs, tour- naments, and triumphs. His fondness for litera- ture, and perhaps his political opinions, both being zealous Yorkists, brought him acquainted with Caxton. When Edward IV. was obliged to abandon his kingdom in order to save his life, in October, 1470, lie earl of Worcester was taken and beheaded on tower-hill, on the ISth of that month. Caxton speaks in warm and affectionate language of him. " In his time," he says, " he flowercKi in vertue and cunning, and to whom he knew none lyke among the lords of the tempo- lalty in science and moral vertue." Agam : " 0, good blessed Lord God '. what grete loss was it of that noble, vertuous, and well-disposed lord ; and what worship had he at Rome in the presence of our holy fader, the pope ; and so in all other places unto his deth, at which deth, every man that was there might lem to die, and take his deth patientlye."

Equal in birth and accomplishments, and su- perior in alliance and military exploits, was Anthony Widville, earl Rivers. He does not seem to have had the same advantages of educa- tion and improvement that were enjoyed by the earl of Worcester. But whatever these were, he made the best use of them, and amidst all the (Umults of the times, never lost sight of the

October, U05, Bod died at Ancona on the Hth of Anfast, 14(V<. The letters of ^ueas Sylvias, who was advanced to the papal chair under the name of Pins II. abotind in dtfioQS and interesting particulars. They are in number ccccilv : many of them written before his elevation to the pontUlcate. He was a learned man, who before his exalta- tion thought, spoke, and wrote with a degree of liberality which excited great expectations. Bat these the pontiff completely disappointed.
 * Pope Pliu II. VBS born ft Coxvlgnaas on the 18th of

pleasure derived from the pursuit of -literatare. It was greatly tohishonouTthathewasthe friraid of Caxton, whose new art he patronized with zeal and liberality. The second book which Cax- ton printed in England was a work of this accom- plished and amiable nobleman's. Caxton gives the following account of him and his works. "The noble and virtuous lord Anthoine, earl Rivers, lord Scales and of the Isle of Wight, under governor to my lord Prince of Wales, notwithstanding the great labour and charg^e that he hath bad in the service of the King and of the said Lord Prince, as well in Wales as in England, which hath be to him no little thought and business both in sprite and body, as the fruit thereof experimentely {sheweth ; yet, over that, t'enrish his virtuous disposicion, be hath put him in deroyr, at all times, when he might have a leisure, which was but startmele, to translate divers works out of French into English. Among Other passed through myn hand, the book of the Wue Sayingtor IHctes of PhUotophert* and the wise holsom Proterht ofChriitine of Pisa, set in metre. Over that, he hath made divers balads agenst the seven dedly synne8.t Furthermore he took upon him the translating of a work named Cordyale, trusting that both the reders and the hearers thereof should know themself hereafter the better, and amend their lyving." The dread- ful catastrophy of this nobleman is well known..

" Rivers, Vangfaan. and Oiey, Kre this, lie shorter by the head at Fomftet.''

Earl Rivers was beheaded at Pontefract, in Yorkshire, on the 13th of June, 1483.

Imperfect as the writings of Tiptoft and Wid- ville may now be deemed, great praise is due to them for their zealous endeavours to promote the cause of learning, and to spread among their coimtrymen a regard to mentsu accomplishments. The example of men so illustrious could not fail of producing some good effects. It must ever be lamented Uiat these two highlj distinguished noblemen met with so untimely and unhappy an end ; both of them having been beheaded when they were little more than forty years of a^. If their existence had been prolonged' to the na- tatal term of human' life, it is highly probable that they would have rendered very essential services to the interests of science and literatiira

Another promoter of literature, that deserves to be recorded, isGrey,bishopofEly, who proved a most noble benefactor to the university of Ox- ford. In 1454, he contributed largely to the

with an illamlnation representing him IntnidacinirCauctaKi to Edward IV. his queen, and the prince, is pceserred la the Archbishop of Caatetbury's library, at Lambeth Palace.
 * A manuscript of Lord Ilivers*s translation of this work*

t These ballads are supposed to be lost; bat John Roose, of Warwick, a cotemporary historian, lias preaerv«d a short poem of the Eail. Rouse seems to have copied if f^om his hand-writing ; it was written daring hisconfln*- ment in Pomfret Castle, a short time before bis deaUi in 1483 ; and, as Dr. Percy justly remarks, ■■ gives as a fine picture of U>e composure and steadiness with wbidi this stout Earl beheld hb ^iproaching fUe."

It is printed in Fwcy's Rellqaes of Andeat «"ii«-fn Poetry, vol. U. p. 44; and In Ritaon's Andait Soosa, p. 87.

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