rank, certainly not in his contemporaries. Turner notices that, “Of his six wives, the first and the last do him credit, and made him happy, and were respected by him the third died beloved and lamented: the second left her honour questionable: and the fifth indisputably disgraced herself. It was the fourth only that could justly say, she was repudiated without any fault." A selfish desire for self-gratification influenced his conduct in seeking the divorce from Catherine; but certainly it originated in the devices of others, and was brought to its termination by political proceedings. If the passions of Henry had some bearing upon this event, it is equally clear, that the passions of others had still more to do with the matter.

Having thus spoken of Henry VIII., without any desire to palliate or excuse the vices which brought awful guilt upon him, we must, in conclusion, again notice him as an instrument in the hand of God for effecting a most important purpose. Bishop Burnet well observes: While we see the folly and weakness of man in all Henry's personal failings, which were very many and very enormous, we at the same time see the justice, the wisdom, and the goodness of God, in making him, who was once the pride and glory of popery, become its scourge and destruction." After urging the value of pure Christianity, he adds, "May we ever value this as we ought. And may we, in our temper and lives, so express the beauty of this holy religion, that it may ever shine among us, and may shine out upon us, to all round about us, and then we may hope that God will preserve it to us, and to our posterity after us, for ever."

By a will executed by Henry a short time before his decease, the succession to the throne, in case of the death of his children without heirs, was directed to pass to the daughters of his youngest sister, Mary, and the duke of Suffolk, omitting any mention of his eldest sister, Margaret. To this we shall have occasion again to refer. But the genuineness of his signature to this will has been disputed.

EDWARD VI.

REIGNED SIX YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS.

From January the 28th, 1547, to July the 6th, 1553.

THE reign of Edward vi., though short, was very important. The quiet policy of those who at first conducted the administration, gave stability to the important changes which had been begun, and carried them onwards to a more perfect state. As Edward was hardly ten years old when he came to the throne, and died before he was sixteen, the government during his reign rested upon the councillors around him, many of whom were able and well-advised men; their measures were in accordance with the principles implanted in

the mind of the youthful monarch by his early in

structors.

Henry VIII. died January 28th, 1547, when his son succeeded to the throne. One good trait in Henry's character was the care bestowed upon his children. The youthful Edward had been taken from the nursery four years previous to his father's death, when he was committed to the care of Dr. Cox and sir John Cheke, both well skilled in the best learning of that age. Under these tutors he made rapid progress, as appears from some of his early writings, the originals of which still remain. Before his father's death, he wrote Latin letters, and showed great eagerness for study. Three years later Ascham describes him as fully master of Latin; able both to speak and write in that language; he was then reading Aristotle in Greek. Ascham says, and the account does not seem to be exaggerated, “Our king, in talent, industry, steadiness, erudition, greatly surpasses his age, and the belief of other persons. But, what was far more important, he was instructed in the truths of religion; he studied and reverenced the Holy Scriptures. By his contemporaries, and by every candid mind in later days, Edward has been regarded as the British Josiah.

The late king appointed sixteen individuals to act as executors of his will. They were to conduct the government during Edward's minority. The list included men attached both to the old and new opinions; but the most bigoted of the Romanists were not among them. Cranmer, and Tonstall, bishop of Durham, an amiable, though not a thoroughly enlightened man, were the principal ecclesiastics. One of these councillors, the earl of Hertford, the eldest maternal uncle of the king, grasped at the chief authority, causing himself to be chosen to preside, and to act as the protector. He was created duke of Somerset, upon a statement being made that such was the intention of the late king. His brother received the title of lord Seymour of Sudley. Several others were raised to the peerage,

while some declined the honour, as above their means to support.

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The funeral of the late king, at Windsor, exhibited a pompous ceremonial. It was speedily followed by the coronation of the young Edward, the ceremony being arranged by Cranmer, so as to omit some of the popish rites formerly observed. The king, young as he was, manifested the right spirit with which he was imbued. On seeing three swords of state prepared, he desired that a Bible should be brought, and carried in the procession, calling it "the sword of the Spirit," and saying, He that rules without it is not to be called God's minister, or a king." Cranmer, in the sermon on this occasion, solemnly charged the royal child to go forward in the work of reformation. This was the desire of the prelate himself, now more fully enlightened in his own mind, and freed from the tyranny and caprices of Henry VIII. The lord protector also entered into these views. In the following affecting prayer, preserved by Strype, he sought direction from Him by whom alone kings reign, and princes are enabled to decree justice: "I am, by appointment, thy minister for thy king, a shepherd for thy people, a sword-bearer for thy justice: prosper the king, save thy people, direct thy justice. I am ready, Lord, to do that thou commandest; command that thou wilt. Remember, O God, thine old mercies; remember thy benefits showed heretofore. Remember, Lord, me thy servant, and make me worthy to ask. Teach me what to ask, and then give me what I ask. None other I seek to, Lord, but thee, because none other can give it me.”

The chancellor Wriothesly, newly created earl of Southampton, was the leader of the Romish party in the council. Desirous to take an active part in politics, he affixed the great seal to an instrument whereby he delegated a part of his judicial authority to others; an illegal proceeding, of which his colleagues availed themselves to deprive him of his office. This success encouraged the protector to gratify his ambition by

obtaining still further powers, that rendered him nearly independent of the council. But a spirit of mercy and conciliation influenced his proceedings. A general pardon was proclaimed. It set at liberty all those who were suffering under the act of six articles, and allowed many exiles to return to their homes and families.

The foreign policy of England was changed. The main object, during the late king's reign, had been to interfere between the emperor and king of France, so as to prevent either from decidedly prevailing over the other, but especially to prevent the ascendency of France, the ancient rival of England, although Henry VIII. was often placed on ill terms with the emperor. Hertford saw the importance of peace to England, that more attention might be given to state affairs at home. Cranmer fully coincided: upon principle he was opposed to war, thereby exhibiting a wide difference from the martial spirit of many Romish ecclesiastics; and he wished to take the opportunity of establishing the Reformation in England. Thus the interference of England with the continental politics was stopped, though strife and intrigue continued abroad. Henry II., the successor to the French throne, showed himself to be an ambitious, restless spirit; he was hailed with much joy by the pope, and encouraged to disturb Europe.

The young king continued his useful occupations; he lived on good terms with his sisters, especially with Elizabeth, to whom he manifested the warmest affection, calling her his "sweet sister Temperance.” Their minds and pursuits were congenial in many respects. But the studies of Edward were not confined to literature. A large number of papers show his anxiety to be informed upon subjects connected with the welfare of his realm, questions of polity, connected not merely with the art of war and kingly power-matters then usually studied by monarchs-but also with trade, with the administration of the laws, and other subjects really the most important for a state.

M