the church had acquired by va-|| Protestant principles. At other rious stratagems. This was fol- times he exercised the most inferlowed by a plan of religious doc-nal cruelty towards the reformed; trine, worship, and discipline, laid and once made the following mad down by Bugenhagius, whom the declaration, That, if he thought king had sent for from Witten-the blood in his arm was tainted berg for that purpose; and in 1539, by the Lutheran heresy, he would an assembly of the states at Oden- have it cut off; and that he would see gave a solemn sanction to all not spare even his own children, these transactions. if they entertained sentiments contrary to those of the Catholic church.

In France, also, the reformation began to make some progress very early. Margaret queen of Na- About this time the famous Calvarre, sister to Francis I. the per-vin began to draw the attention of petual rival of Charles V. was a the public, but more especially of great friend to the new doctrine; the queen of Navarre. His zeal and it appears that, as early as the exposed him to danger; and the year 1523, there were in several friends of the reformation, whom of the provinces of France great Francis was daily committing to numbers of people who had con- the flames, placed him more than ceived the greatest aversion both once in the most perilous situation, to the doctrine and tyranny of the from which he was delivered by church of Rome; among whom the interposition of the queen of were many of the first rank and Navarre. He therefore retired out dignity, and even some of the epis-of France to Basil, in Switzerland, copal order. But as their num-where he published his Christian ber increased daily, and troubles Institutions, and became afterand commotions were excited in wards so famous. several places on account of the Those among the French who religious differences, the authority first renounced the jurisdiction of of the king intervened, and many the Romish church are commonly persons eminent for their virtue called Lutherans by the writers of and piety were put to death in the those early times; hence it has most barbarous manner. Indeed, been supposed that they had all Francis, who had either, no reli-imbibed the peculiar sentiments of gion at all, or, at best, no fixed Luther. But this appears by no and consistent system of religious means to have been the case; for principles, conducted himself to- the vicinity of the cities of Gewards the Protestants in such a neva, Lausanne, &c., which had manner as best answered his pri-adopted the doctrines of Calvin, vate views. Sometimes he re-produced a remarkable effect upon solved to invite Melancthon into the French Protestant churches; France, probably with a view to insomuch that, about the middle please his sister, the queen of Na-of this century, they all entered varre, whom he loved tenderly, into communion with the church and who had strongly imbibed the of Geneva. The French ProtestVOL. II.

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ants were called Huguenots [see embraced the principles of the reHUGUENOTS] by their adversa-formed religion. It is certain, inries, by way of contempt. Their deed, and the Roman Catholics fate was very severe, being perse-themselves acknowledge it withcuted with unparalleled fury; and out hesitation, that the papal docthough many princes of the blood, trines and authority would have and of the first nobility, had em- fallen into ruin in all parts of the braced their sentiments, yet in no world at once, had not the force part of the world did the reform- of the secular arm been employed ers suffer so much. At last, all to support the tottering edifice. commotions were quelled by the In the Netherlands, particularly, fortitude and magnanimity of Hen- the most grievous persecutions ry IV, who, in the year 1598, took place, so that by the emperor granted all his subjects full liberty Charles V. upwards of 100,000 of conscience by the famous edict were destroyed, while still greater of Nantes, and seemed to have cruelties were exercised upon the thoroughly established the refor-people by his son Philip II. The mation throughout his dominions. revolt of the United Provinces, -During the minority of Louis however, and motives of real poXIV, however, this edict was re-licy, at last put a stop to these fuvoked by cardinal Mazarine, since rious proceedings; and though, in which time the Protestants have many provinces of the Netheroften been cruelly persecuted; nor lands, the establishment of the Powas the profession of the reform-pish religion was still continued, ed religion in France at any time the Protestants have been long so safe as in most other countries free of the danger of persecution of Europe. on account of their principles.

In the other parts of Europe the The reformation made a conopposition to the church of Rome siderable progress in Spain and was but faint and ambiguous be- Italy soon after the rupture before the diet of Augsburg. Before tween Luther and the Roman that period, however, it appears, pontiff. In all the provinces of from undoubted testimony, that Italy, but more especially in the the doctrine of Luther had made territories of Venice, Tuscany, and a considerable, though probably Naples, the superstition of Rome secret, progress through Spain, lost ground, and great numbers of Hungary, Bohemia, Britain, Po-people of all ranks expressed an land, and the Netherlands; and aversion to the papal yoke. This had in all these countries many occasioned violent and dangerous friends, of whom several repaired commotions in the kingdom of to Wittemberg, in order to en-Naples in the year 1546; which, large their knowledge by means however, were at last quelled by of Luther's conversation. Some the united efforts of Charles V. of these countries threw off the and his viceroy Don Pedro di Romish yoke entirely, and in others Toledo. In several places the a prodigious number of families pope put a stop to the progress of

the reformation by letting loose blinded him, his sentiments bcthe inquisitors, who spread dread-came much more rational and ful marks of their barbarity through agreeable to Christianity than they the greatest part of Italy. These had ever been. All the eccleformidable ministers of supersti-siastics who had attended him, as tion put so many to death, and soon as he expired, were sent to perpetrated such horrid acts of the inquisition, and committed to cruelty and oppression, that most the flames, or put to death by of the reformed consulted their some other method equally tersafety by a voluntary exile, while rible. Such was the fate of Augusothers returned to the religion of tine Casal, the emperor's preachRome, at least in external appear-er; of Constantine Pontius, his ance. But the inquisition, which confessor; of Egidius, whom he frightened into the profession of had named to the bishopric of popery several Protestants in other Tortosa; of Bartholemew de Caparts of Italy, could never make ranza, a dominican, who had been its way into the kingdom of Na-confessor to king Philip and queen ples; nor could either the autho- Mary; with twenty others of less rity or entreaties of the pope en-note. gage the Neapolitans to admit In England, the principles of even visiting inquisitors. the reformation began to be adoptIn Spain, several people em-ed as soon as an account of Lubraced the Protestant religion not ther's doctrines could be conveyonly from the controversies of ed thither. In that kingdom there Luther, but even from those di- were still great remains of the sect vines whom Charles V had brought called Lollards, whose doctrine rewith him into Germany in order sembled that of Luther; and among to refute the doctrines of Luther; whom, of consequence, the sentifor these doctors imbibed the ments of our reformer gained great pretended heresy, instead of re-credit. Henry VIII, king of Engfuting it, and propagated it more land at that time, was a violent or less on their return home. But partisan of the church of Rome, the inquisition, which could obtain and had a particular veneration no footing in Naples, reigned tri- for the writings of Thomas Aquiumphant in Spain; and by the nas. Being informed that Luther most dreadful methods frightened spoke of his favourite author with the people back into popery, and contempt, he conceived a violent suppressed the desire of exchang-prejudice against the reformer, and ing their superstition for a more even wrote against him, as we have rational plan of religion. It was, already observed. Luther did not indeed, presumed that Charles hesitate at writing against his mahimself died Protestant; and it jesty, overcame him in argument, seems to be certain, that, when and treated him with very little the approach of death had dissi- ceremony. The first step towards pated those schemes of ambition public reformation, however, was and grandeur which had so long not taken till the year 1529. Great

complaints had been made inminal to submit to the legatine England, and of a very ancient power which had been exercised date, of the usurpations of the by cardinal Wolsey. By this stroke clergy; and, by the prevalence of the whole body of clergy was dethe Lutheran opinions, these com-clared guilty at once. They were plaints were now become more too well acquainted with Henry's general than before. The House disposition, however to reply, that of Commons, finding the occasion their ruin would have been the favourable, passed several bills, certain consequence of their not restraining the impositions of the submitting to Wolsey's commisclergy but what threatened the sion, which had been given by ccclesiastical order with the great-royal authority. Instead of making est danger were, the severe re-any defence of this kind, they proaches thrown out almost with-chose to throw themselves upon out opposition in the House against the mercy of their sovereign; the dissolute lives, ambition, and which, however, it cost them avarice of the priests, and their 118,840%. to procure. A confession continual encroachments on the was likewise extorted from them, privileges of the laity. The bills that the king was protector and for regulating the clergy met with supreme head of the church of opposition in the house of Lords; England; though some of them and bishop Fisher imputed them had the dexterity to get a clause to want of faith in the commons, inserted which invalidated the and to a formed design, proceed-whole submission, viz. in so far as ing from heretical and Lutheran is permitted by the law of Christ. principles of robbing the church The king having thus begun to of her patrimony, and overturning reduce the power of the clergy, the national religion. The com- kept no bounds with them aftermons, however, complained to the wards. He did not, indeed, atking, by their speaker sir Thomas tempt any reformation in religious Audley, of these reflections thrown matters; nay, he persecuted most out against them: and the bishop violently such as did attempt this was obliged to retract his words. in the least. Indeed, the most Though Henry had not the least essential article of his creed seems idea of rejecting any even of the to have been his own supremacy; most absurd Romish superstitions, for whoever denied this was sure yet, as the oppressions of the clergy to suffer the most severe penalties, suited very ill with the violence whether Protestant or Papist. of his own temper, he was pleased He died in 1547, and was sucwith every opportunity of lessen-ceeded by his only son Edward ing their power. In the parliament VI. This amiable prince, whose of 1531 he shewed his design of early youth was crowned with humbling the clergy in the most effectual manner. An obsolete statute was revived, from which it was pretended that it was cri

that wisdom, sagacity, and virtue, that would have done honour to advanced years, gave new spirit and vigour to the Protestant cause,

and was its brightest ornament, as and, among many other victims, well as its most effectual support. the learned and pious Cranmer, He encouraged learned and pious archbishop of Canterbury, who had men of foreign countries to settle been one of the most illustrious in England, and addressed a par-instruments of the reformation in ticular invitation to Martin Bucer England, fell a sacrifice to her and Paul Fagius, whose modera- fury. This odious scene of pertion added a lustre to their other secution was happily concluded in virtues, that, by the ministry and the year 1558 by the death of the labours of these eminent men, in queen, who left no issue; and, as concert with those of the friends soon as her successor the lady Eliof the reformation in England, he zabeth ascended to the throne, ali might purge his dominions from things assumed a new and a pleasthe sordid fictions of popery, and ing aspect. This illustrious prinestablish the pure doctrines of cess, whose sentiments, counsels, Christianity in their place. For and projects, breathed a spirit suthis purpose he issued out the perior to the natural softness and wisest orders for the restoration of delicacy of her sex, exerted this true religion; but his reign was vigorous and manly spirit in the too short to accomplish fully such defence of oppressed conscience a glorious purpose. In the year and expiring liberty, broke anew 1553 he was taken from his loving the despotic yoke of papal authoand afflicted subjects, whose sor-rity and superstition; and, delirow was inexpressible, and suited vering her people from the bondto their loss. His sister Mary (the age of Rome, established that form daughter of Catharine of Arragon, of religious doctrine and ecclefrom whom Henry had been sepa- siastical government which still rated by the famous divorce), a subsists in England. This relifurious bigot to the church of gious establishment differs in some Rome, and a princess whose na-respects from the plan that had tural character, like the spirit of been formed by those whom Edher religion, was despotic and ward VI had employed for procruel, succeeded him on the Bri-moting the cause of the reformatish throne, and imposed anew the tion, and approaches nearer to arbitrary laws and the tyrannical the rites and discipline of former yoke of Rome upon the people of times; though it is widely differEngland. Nor were the methods ent, and, in the most important which she employed in the cause points, entirely opposite to the of superstition better than the principles of the Roman hierarchy. cause itself, or tempered by any The cause of the reformation sentiments of equity or compas-underwent in Ireland the same sion. Barbarous tortures and vicissitudes and revolutions that death, in the most shocking forms, awaited those who opposed her will, or made the least stand against the restoration of popery:

had attended it in England. When Henry VIII, after the abolition of the papal authority, was declared supreme head upon earth of the