At the interview between Henry VIII. and Francis I. which took place at Guisnes, Henry and his English cavaliers wore on their crests the Hawthorn, a cherished though humble badge, from the circumstance of Henry VII. having placed on his head, in Bosworth Field, the crown of England, which had been discovered in a hawthorn bush. It was on this occasion, that when Henry was about to read the articles of the treaty the monarchs had met to execute, that instead of designating himself King of _France_, he stopped abruptly after “I Henry, King of England,” and exclaimed, “No, not the King of France: I should be an impostor if I claimed that title, for the King of France is here!” ❦ [Sidenote: Anecdote of Torregiano.] Torregiano, a native of Florence, who came to Seville in 1520, was employed by the Duke of Arcos in making an exact copy of a statue in clay, which had been executed by himself, and which was greatly valued by all connoisseurs. When it was finished, the Duke paid him in maravedes, and the quantity was so great that two men were required to carry it to his lodging. The artist rejoiced in this liberal payment, as he supposed it, but on opening the bags and ascertaining that they contained copper, and not silver, and that the value was trifling, he became furious, ran to the palace of the Duke, and before his face, broke the statue in pieces. The figure being an image of our Saviour, he was accused of heresy, and consigned to the Inquisition, and that tribunal sentenced him to a severe castigation, which the indignant artist escaped by starving himself to death in prison, previous to the time appointed for the execution of his sentence. ❦ [Sidenote: Decline of Families.] Families decline as do empires; each succeeding day some part of life’s ancient honours are lost: the descent that leads to adversity is precipitate and rapid. Children detach themselves from their parents: parents separate themselves from their children. Thus all fades, till the last great scene lets fall the curtain of death and oblivion. ❦ Il y a des personnes à qui les défauts sient bien, et d’autres qui sont désagréables avec leurs bonnes qualités. ❦ [Sidenote: Confiance.] La confiance fournit plus à la conversation, que l’esprit. ❦ [Sidenote: Robert Bruce.]