evidence that, however instrumental he, might have been towards effecting a reformation of religion in England, he himself died under the influence of the grossest delusions of the antichristian church of Rome.

Herbert's Henry VIII._ Burnet's History of the Reformation. Rymer. Hall. Stowe. Fox, &c. &c.

REFLECTIONS.

The facts which have been briefly stated in this and the two preceding essays, may enable us to form a general estimate of the character of the monarch, whose eventful reign they are intended to record. Different opinions have been entertained on this question, both by ancient and modern writers. Some have eulogized this prince, as a model of political wisdom, by whose prudent and vigorous administration, England was raised to a higher pitch of national glory than she had ever before attained, insomuch as to become at once the guardian and the arbitrator of Europe. They have represented this sovereign as holding, with a firm and invincible hand, the balances of Europe in a critical and perilous æra-an æra of political agitation and contention, when the thrones of the principal European states were filled with enterprising monarchs, who aimed at universal dominion. They have celebrated too his accomplishments, his erudition, his splendour, and his almost boundless liberality. Others, on the contrary, have expatiated with unmingled severity, on his unparalleled follies and crimes. They have attached every term of obloquy and reproach to his name and memory. They have pronounced him to be a vain, prodigal, voluptuous, revengeful, and sanguinary despot-the degraded slave of his passions, the curse of an oppressed people, and a disgrace to humanity itself. Perhaps these contrary opinions may be in some measure reconciled by referring them to different periods and actions of his life. In youth some traits of character were discernible of a less repulsive nature than those which afterwards appeared. It might be possible to select a few solitary instances of

generosity and kindness; as when he wept over the last affectionate letter of his repudiated queen, or when he interposed to rescue his faithful minister from the grasp of his enemies. But these are so infinitely outnumbered by the barbarities, the sensuality, the capricious jealousy, and the malignant revenge of his whole reign, that the impression which remains, after every possible abatement has been made in his favour, is that of unmingled abhorrence and disgust.

Yet from such a character, forbidding as it may appear, (especially when viewed in contrast with that of the amiable, meek, and benevolent Cranmer,) many valuable lessons of instruction may be gathered. It becomes us to profit no less by the failure, than by the success, of those who have gone before us. We should mark attentively the precipices from which others have fallen-the rocks on which they have split-the quick-sands on which they have foundered, lest we should fall into similar dangers. How impressively are we taught by the principal events of this reign, the importance of self-government-the duty and yet the difficulty of ruling our spirits, subduing our passions, and of mortifying rather than indulging our depraved affections. Without this, the highest pretensions to knowledge and zeal and pre-eminent piety, are hypocritical and unavailing-our loudest clamours, in defence of the truth, resemble but "sounding. brass, and a tinkling cymbal." The most effectual way in which we may become "defenders of the faith," is by striving successfully against sin-by exhibiting a character that recommends and adorns the gospel-by "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." These are arguments which the most inveterate enemies of the Gospel cannot gainsay or resist. They are weapons of resistless force, by which the powers of darkness will be scattered, and the empire of superstition utterly subverted. Girt about with this armour of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left, no weapon that is formed against us can prosper; we cannot fail to come off " more than conquerors through Him that has loved us," even though called to contend with "principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high places."

ESSAY VI.

The Reign of EDWARD VI.

A.D. 1547-1553.

EDWARD, the only son of Henry VIII., by Jane Seymour, had just attained his ninth year, when the demise of his royal parent put him in possession of the crown. The late king had directed by his last testament, that the administration should be confided, during the minority of his son, to sixteen executors and twelve councillors of state. But the very first act of the new regency virtually destroyed this arrangement, by assigning to the earl of Hertford, the king's maternal uncle, who was afterwards created duke of Somerset, the office of Protector. Nothing could be more grateful to the nation in general, and more especially to the protestant party, than this appointment: for besides that Somerset had advocated, during the late arbitrary reign, the principles of the constitution, he was well known to be a friend to the reformed religion, and most warmly attached to Cranmer and his coadjutors. As some of the royal council, and others who occupied public stations, were bigoted catholics, who had signalized themselves by their persecuting zeal, an early opportunity was embraced of dismissing them from office. Among these were Wriothesly, the chancellor, who was now required to surrender the great seal, and Gardiner, the bishop of Winchester, who, on account of his intemperate zeal in defending popish ceremonies, was removed from his diocese and committed to the Fleet prison. By the abdication of these catholic partisans, an unobstructed way was prepared for the progressive measures of reform, which form the distinguishing features of this short but interesting reign.

The political events of this reign were comparatively few, and destitute of interest. The duke of Somerset commenced his public career with a Scottish war, in VOL. I.

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which he most reluctantly engaged, and which was conducted on the part of the English with great moderation and forbearance. The conduct of this war was chiefly intrusted to Dudley, earl of Warwick, an enterprising and skilful general, who quickly brought it to a successful issue. A complete victory was obtained by that valiant chief, over a Scottish army nearly twice as numerous as his own, at Musselburgh: ten thousand of the enemy were left dead on the field of battle, among whom were several hundred monks, who had been the chief instigators of the war.

While the protector was occupied with this foreign enterprise, he was suddenly apprized of a domestic conspiracy, which was so much the more formidable, as it arose within his own family. His brother, the admiral lord Seymour, who had lately married Catherine Parr, the queen-dowager, was so elated by that connexion, as to aspire to supreme authority. Persuaded that the influence which the protector possessed over the king and council formed the chief obstacle to his ambition, this unnatural brother deliberately meditated his ruin. The wily artifices of the intriguing earl of Warwick contributed in no small degree to the fatal issue of this domestic feud. Somerset watched the progress of this conspiracy with solicitude, and endeavoured by the most conciliatory measures, to regain the affections of his turbulent brother. But all his efforts were ineffectual; his moderation was ascribed to fear, and served rather to embolden, than disarm, his enemies. Whilst affairs were in this state, the queen-dowager died; and the admiral, who was considered the most accomplished nobleman of his age, aspired to the hand of the princess Elizabeth, who is said at first to have favoured his addresses. Elated by the prospect of this flattering alliance, his pride knew no bounds. He now openly aimed at excluding his brother from the high station to which he had been raised by universal consent, and succeeding to the protectorate. Somerset was at length reduced to the distressing necessity of frustrating the ambitious designs of the admiral, by resorting to extreme measures. Listening to the pernicious counsels of the insidious earl

of Warwick, he permitted a bill of attainder to be presented to parliament, in which his brother was accused of high treason. After a summary and unconstitutional Y trial, lord Seymour was found guilty by a great majority of both houses, and soon afterwards perished on the scaffold.

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t Though the protector had been greatly distressed by S these proceedings, while they were pending, he was not Junmindful of the state of religion. The Reformation now proceeded rapidly, under the auspices of the youthful sovereign, whose decided attachment to the protestant cause became daily more apparent; and through the prudent energy of Cranmer and Somerset, the English church was now modified, both in doctrine and discipline, so as to approach nearer to the reformed churches in Germany. The errors in popery were in a great measure exploded, and a revised liturgy was published in the vernacular tongue, which distinctly recognised the doctrines of the Reformation. Homilies were composed for public instruction, in which the protestant tenets were taught and defended with much piety and zeal. All obstructions to the free circulation of the scriptures were now removed, and all persons were both invited, and exhorted to examine the sacred volume for themselves. Images which had long been objects of popular adoration, were taken down and destroyed; many of the superstitious rites of the catholic church were now abolished, and especially the sacrament of the mass. Divine worship was no longer conducted in an unknown tongue, nor were prayers and intercessions to be addressed any longer to canonized priests, and saints of human invention Thus within two years from the accession of this excellent young prince, incomparably more was accomplished towards completing the work of Reformation, than had been effected through the whole of the preceding reign. Henry had indeed aimed a fatal blow at the papal authority in England, but left all the corruptions of popery in full vigour. But no sooner had he ceased to reign, than the doctrinal and practical errors of that church, were openly impugned, even before the repeal of those statutes which doomed the abettors of such heretical tenets to the flames.

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