some measure become accustomed to the smoke from the peat, which is burnt here, we made a tour round the apartment. On a shelf were placed "The big ha' Bible," "Pilgrim's Progress," and one or two other books of the same kind. Below these hung their plaids and bonnets.

"Their hopes, their cares, their joys were all

Bounded within their cottage wall."

4. We again set forward on our journey, though the rain was still heavy. We had just witnessed a realisation of that beautiful lesson, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." For this poor man's family, with none of the luxuries of life, not even many of the comforts, was possessed of that true happiness, which is not always found in the habitations of the rich.

5. The road became less mountainous as we approached the village of Dent, and lay along a fruitful and well cultivated district, abounding with white-washed cottages; before cach of which, and belonging to it, were a garden, field, and orchard, with generally a cow and a pig. Frequently a group of merry children were playing, whilst their fathers and mothers were seated, after the fatigues of the day, in the doorway, both knitting (for here the men when out in the fields knit their own stockings). All the people, being far removed from the strife and toil of towns, seemed happy and contented amongst their native hills.

6. By this time we had arrived at the Head Inn, the street leading to which was so narrow, that two carts could not pass; perfectly satisfied with our day's excursion, notwithstanding our mode of conveyance, and our wet clothes. The cheerful piety of our guide had made our five hours mountain travelling some of the happiest in our lives; and, whilst sitting over a warm fire in the room enjoying our tea, we could thank that God who gives to each such things as he requires.

E. H.

Note to the Teacher. — In this part, a selection is made of those Lessons, or parts of Lessons, which contain the leading and most important facts connected with English History. These may form either the subjects of conversation to be written from memory, or as tests of the pupil's knowledge. The portions omitted can be supplied, if necessary, by the Teacher himself. As these Lessons admit of being divided into several separate portions, each sufficiently large to form a distinct Lesson, they have been accordingly broken into Sections.

104. A connected account of Henry VIII., with the heads developed.

Henry VIII. began to reign 1509, died 1547.

1. a. Henry VIII., son of Henry VII. was just eighteen years of age when he ascended the throne, handsome in person and pleasing in manners.

b. The unpopularity of the late king, through his avarice, made men look with joyful anticipation to the reign of a young and gallant prince; and the treasures amassed by his father enabled him to fulfil these expectations.

c. He greatly excelled in martial exercises, and loved to display his address and vigour before his consort, her ladies, the nobility, and the foreign ambassadors.

2. a. Acting under the advice of his grandmother, the venerable countess of Richmond, Henry retained all his father's faithful and experienced ministers.

b. But on the very day of his accession, to gratify the people, he ordered Empson, Dudley, and their chief agents, or promoters, as they were termed, to be arrested and charged with having usurped the authority of the courts of law, &c.

Empson made an ingenious and eloquent defence; so that the charges were not tenable.

c. As it was, however, resolved not to let them escape, an absurd charge was brought against them, of a design to secure the person of the young king on the death of his father, and make themselves masters of the government. On this, which every one must have known to be false, juries readily found them guilty.

d. They were respited, however, and might perhaps have been suffered to linger out their lives in prison, but that the king was so harassed with complaints against them in his progress the following summer, that he signed the warrant for their execution, and they suffered on Tower Hill.

LESSON 60.

SECTION II.

4. a. War between England and Scotland.

The Earl of Surrey, to whom Henry had committed the Scottish war, was at Pontefract, when James crossed the Tweed. The Earl having summoned the gentry of the north to meet him at Newcastle, they immediately repaired to his standard, when his forces amounted to 26,000 men. He then advanced at their head to Wooler-haugh, within five miles of the enemy. When he saw their position, fortified by nature on all sides but one, and that defended by cannon, he feared to attack, and, sending a herald to James, required him to descend into the plain, and engage on equal terms. The monarch refused. Surrey then, by the advice of his son the lord-admiral, resolved to march toward Scotland, and then return and take the enemy in the rear. The English therefore crossed the Till in two divisions, a van and rearguard; the former led by the admiral, the latter by Surrey in person, and marched till evening up its right bank. At sunrise next morning, they crossed it by the bridge of Twissel, and, going down the left bank approached the Scottish camp. James,

who now saw their object, ordered his men to fire their huts and retire to the hill of Brankston, more to the north.

b. Battle of Flodden Field. The vanguard of the English halted at the foot of this hill, until the rearguard came up, when they both advanced in one line; and the Scots descended in good order and perfect silence. The right wing of the English vanguard was assailed by a body of Scottish spearmen under the Lord Home. It gave way, and its leader Lord Edward Howard was unhorsed, and lay on the ground expecting to be slain or taken, when Heron came up with a body of outlaws and restored the battle; and the Lord Dacre, with a reserve of 15,000 men, took the Scots in the rear and put them to flight. A body of 7,000 Scots, under the Earls of Huntley, Errol and Crawford, was meantime hotly engaged with the remainder of the English vanguard, till after an obstinate and bloody conflict, Errol and Crawford fell, and their men broke and fled. The king in person, followed by a numerous body of gallant warriors cased in armour, assailed the rearguard, and bearing down all resistance had nearly reached the royal standard, when Sir Edward Stanley, who had defeated and chased over the hill the Earls of Lennox and Argyle who were opposed to him, returned, and took the body led by the king in the rear; James was slain by an unknown hand within a spear's length of Surrey. The battle, which began after four in the evening, lasted but an hour. The approach of night and the want of cavalry caused the pursuit not to exceed four miles. The loss of the Scots was 10,000 men, among whom were their king, his son the Archbishop of St. Andrew's, two bishops, two abbots, twelve Earls, thirteen barons, and fifty gentlemen of distinction. The body of the Scottish king was conveyed to London, to be there interred.

LESSON 60.

SECTION III.

5. a. Wolsey. At this time, and for many years after, England was governed by Cardinal Wolsey. Ilis father, who

was a substantial burgess (or, as some say, a butcher) of Ipswich, had brought him up for the church.

b. His talents. So apt was he in learning from his earliest youth, that at Oxford he was honoured with the title of the Boy Bachelor.

c. His honours. - His first clerical appointment was to the living of Limington in Somersetshire, through the patronage of the Marquis of Dorset, whose sons had been among his pupils at the University. He next became private chaplain to the Treasurer of Calais, where he was noticed by that able diplomatist, Bishop Fox, and by him recommended to Henry VII., who was so pleased with his learning, activity, and aptitude for the despatch of public business, that in a short time he preferred him to the Deanery of Lincoln, and the office of King's Almoner.

d. His influence. · At the accession of Henry VIII., who had little inclination to business, Wolsey proved the very man wanted to relieve the sovereign of all the cares of state. Although twenty years the king's senior, he soon became his royal master's bosom friend. And on the resignation of Archbishop Warham, received the seals as chancellor, being soon after further promoted by Leo X. to the important post of papal legate. He now became most sumptuous in his entertainments. During the war between Francis of France and Charles, Wolsey was despatched to the continent, not to arbitrate between the contending princes, but to concert with the emperor for the dismemberment of the French monarchy. Soon after this, Leo X. died, and Wolsey aspired to the Popedom; but after deliberating twenty-three days, the conclave elected Adrian, Cardinal of Tortosa.

e. The exhausted state of Henry's Exchequer, rendered it imperative for him to assemble à parliament, which met, after an interval of eight years, on the 15th of April, 1523, Sir Thomas More being chosen by the Commons as their Speaker. Cardinal Wolsey went down to the Lower House in great state, and demanded an immediate vote for 800,000l.