From an affair which soon after this took place there, it appears that Coventry, however famous for saints, had no great cause to brag of her poets.--When queen Elizabeth, to gratify her subjects, made the tour of her island, she passed through Coventry. The mayor, aldermen, and company hearing of her approach, went out in great state to meet her. The queen being notified that they wished to address her, made a full stop right opposite to a stage erected for the purpose, and covered with embroidered cloth, from which a ready orator, after much bowing and arms full extended, made this wondrous speech--"We men of Coventry are glad to see your royal highness--Lord how _fair_ you be!" To this the maiden queen, equal famed for fat and fun, rising in her carriage, and waving her lily white hand, made this prompt reply--"Our royal highness is glad to see you men of Coventry--Lord what FOOLS you be!" CHAPTER III. _Our hero, little Ben, coming on the carpet--Put to school very young--Learns prodigiously--Taken home and set to candle-making-- Curious capers, all proclaiming "the Achilles in petticoats."_ Dr. Franklin's father married early in his own country, and would probably have lived and died there, but for the persecutions against his friends the Presbyterians, which so disgusted him, that he came over to New England, and settled in Boston about the year 1682. He brought with him his English wife and three children. By the same wife he had four children more in America; and ten others afterwards by an American wife. The doctor speaks with pleasure of having seen thirteen sitting together very lovingly at his father's table, and all married. Our little hero, who was the fifteenth child, and last of the sons, was born at Boston the 17th day of January, 1706, old style. That famous Italian proverb, "_The Devil tempts every man, but the Idler tempts the Devil_," was a favourite canto with wise old Josias; for which reason, soon as their little lips could well lisp letters and syllables, he had them all to school.