What a noble and beautiful example of disinterestedness! How often do we sigh for opportunities of doing good, whilst we neglect the openings of Providence in little things, which would frequently lead to the accomplishment of most important usefulness! Dr. Johnson used to say, “He who waits to do a great deal of good at once, will never do any.” How many of my readers do you think would have acted towards their brothers and sisters in the same way?
It is related by St. Jerome, that “the blessed apostle John, living at Ephesus to extreme old age, was with difficulty carried to church in the arms of his disciples, and being unable to make a long discourse, every time they assembled, was wont to say nothing but this: ‘Little children, love one another.’ At length, the disciples and brethren who attended, tired of hearing so often the same thing, said, ‘Sir, why do you always say this?’ Who then made this answer, worthy of himself: ‘Because it is the Lord’s command; and if that alone be done, it is sufficient.’”
A NARRATIVE OF PERSECUTION BY HENRY THE EIGHTH.
Among the many acts of severity practised against his nobles by Henry VIII, few are more remarkable than the terrible persecution suffered by Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, and his unhappy family. This nobleman, whose second wife, Lady Elizabeth Grey, was a daughter of the Marquis of Dorset, and first cousin to the king, was for some time favored at court, and had been made Lord Deputy of Ireland; but the country being much disturbed, he was summoned to answer for this before the king in council, and proceeded to London, leaving his eldest son to administer the Irish affairs in his absence.
But on reaching the court, Fitzgerald was committed to the Tower; and his son, exasperated by a false report of his father’s being beheaded, broke into open rebellion. Succeeding for a short time, but afterwards reduced to difficulty, Thomas Fitzgerald received a promise of pardon; and confiding in this, he surrendered himself to Lord Leonard Grey, brother of his step-mother, the Countess of Kildare. His five uncles, who had taken part with him in the rebellion, also submitted, and the whole six were conveyed to London; but in spite of the remonstrances of Lord Leonard Grey, who declared his honor pledged for their safety, they were all hanged at Tyburn.