that the truth of the Christian religion is not to be proved by demonstrative, but only by probable arguments. The book abounds in scholastic learning and logical subtleties, in both of which our author was a great proficient.

Reynold Pecock was evidently a man of strong parts, and of learning far superior to those of his time. He was not only skilled in all the subtleties of the logic and divinity of the schoolmen, but had studied with deep attention the law of nature and nations. He was at once acute and eloquent. But his talents were unhappily engaged in the hopeless attempt to defend the absurd doctrines and usages of the church of Rome, on the principles of reason. To his praise, however, be it said, that he always conducted his opposition with great moderation and candour. He patiently listened to the arguments of his antagonists, without replying to them, as was the custom with the rest of his order, with insult and outrage. This gentleness and forbearance towards heretics, (even more than his heretical opinions,) were the cause of his persecution. The following short prayer, composed by himself in English, as it exhibits a picture of the benignity and candour of his mind, deserves to be transcribed:

O thou Lord Jesu, God and man, head of thy Christian church, and teacher of Christian belief, I beseech thy mercy, thy pity, and thy charity; far be this said peril [of implicit faith] from the Christian church, and from each person therein contained; and shield thou, that this venom be never brought into thy church; and if thou suffer it to be any while brought in, I beseech thee, that it be soon again outspit; but suffer thou, ordain, and do, that the law and the faith, which thy chosen at any time keepeth, be received and admitted to fall under this examination---whether it be the same very faith which those of thine apostles taught or no, and whether it hath sufficient evidences for it to be very faith

or no.

VOL. I.

SIR JOHN FORTESCUE.

AN eminent lawyer and statesman, was descended from an ancient family in Devonshire, but neither the time nor place of his birth is precisely known. He is supposed to have been educated at Oxford, and bishop Tanner affirms him to have been of Exeter College, though these circumstances are also uncertain. That he was a student of Lincoln's Inn, however, is a fact better authenticated: for it is well known that he distinguished himself there by his knowledge of the civil and common law.

In the fourth year of Henry VI. or in 1426, he was made one of the governors of Lincoln's Inn, which honour was conferred upon him, a second time, three years after. In 1430, he was made a serjeant at law; in 1441, a king's serjeant at law; and the year after, chief justice of the king's bench. This office he held through the reign of Henry VI. to whom he steadily adhered in all his misfortunes. In

consequence of this attachment, in the first parliament under Edward IV. which began at Westminster, on the 4th of November, 1461, he was attainted of high treason, by the same act which likewise ordered the attainder of Henry VI. queen Margaret, and Edward, their son, with a number of other persons of distinction. On the flight of Henry into Scotland, it is generally believed, that he created Fortescue chancellor of England; and the latter, in his book De Laudibus Legum Anglia, stiles himself Cancellarius Angliæ.

In the April of 1463, he fled to Flanders, in company with queen Margaret, prince Edward, and other persons of rank, who followed the fortunes of the house of Lancaster. He continued exiled from his country during many years, moving from place to place, as the necessities of the royal family required; and finally returned with them to England, on a delusive prospect of retrieving their fortunes.

The time and other circumstances of his death are unknown; though it is certain he lived to the age of nearly ninety years, and probably died but a short time before the close of the 15th century.

His works are numerous, though two only, I

believe, have been printed. 1. His most celebrated production is the De Laudibus Legum Anglia, before mentioned. It appears from the introduction, that his primary intention in writing this work, was to institute his young master, prince Edward, in the art of government, by instructing him in the laws of his country. He had observed the promising talents of that prince, who was eager to acquire expertness in all military exercises, with a view to accomplish himself for an able commander. He thought it of importance, therefore, to mingle with these laudable propensities, impressions of a different description, but of no less importance to a monarch. He was anxious to instil into his mind, just notions of the constitution of his country, and to inspire him with reverence for its laws; that (as he said,) if Providence should favour his designs, he might govern as a king, and not as a tyrant or conqueror. His honourable solicitude, however, proved fruitless, with respect to the object which called it forth; the young prince, not long after, having been inhumanly murdered. But the work itself still remains as a monument of the author's talents, and of his love for his country. This eulogium upon our