somewhat that I must put you in mind of as touching the Christian religion; which, so long as I was in authority, I always diligently set forward and furthered to my power. Neither do I repent me of my doings, but rejoice therein, since that now the state of Christian religion cometh most near unto the form and order of the primitive church; which thing I esteem as a great benefit, given of God both unto you and me; most heartily exhorting you all, that this which is most purely set forth unto you, you will with like thankfulness accept and embrace, and set out the same in your living. Which thing, if you do not, without doubt greater mischief and calamity will follow."

In the year 1552, additional measures for carrying forward the Reformation were sanctioned by authority. The excellent catechism, afterwards enlarged and set forth as Nowell's Catechism, was then prepared, and soon afterwards published by authority. But Northumberland was evidently an irreligious character. He engaged the king in the habitual violation of the Lord's day, by fixing that the arrears of public business should be attended to by the council on that day. Edward appears to have consented with reluctance, and wrote with his own hand a condition, that the councillors should first be present at the public services of religion. In the summer, the king went a progress with much state, as far west as Salisbury.

The general improvement of principle during this reign, may be traced by reference to many subjects of general polity. An act passed respecting treason. which required the open testimony of two witnesses. confronted with the accused, instead of the practice of passing bills of attainder on written evidence only The attention already shown by the young king to the interests of his subjects, appeared from the sanction given to commercial enterprise. An end was put to the monopoly of foreign trade by the Easterling of German merchants, the body often designated "Mer chants of the Steel-yard." Still the infant state o

commerce seemed to need the combined efforts of many. Another company of English merchants, called “The Merchant Adventurers," was encouraged. In seeking after a north-east passage to China, they opened a valuable trade with Russia, then only accessible through the northern port of Archangel.

The duke of Northumberland was unpopular; the parliament refused to sanction some measures intended for his aggrandizement, and was dissolved. The feeling against him was increased by his interference with the elections to a new parliament, and by his requiring a considerable amount in taxes. The worst state measure of this period was debasing the coin, which aggravated the popular discontent, by making a general rise of prices, while it answered no end, not even diminishing the amount of the king's debts, then principally owing to foreigners, who could not be forced to receive payment in this debased coin. Amidst all the popular discontent, Northumberland took care to increase his own resources, obtaining, among other grants, the temporal revenues of the see of Durham.

The attention of the nation at large was now drawn to a most important subject, the alarming state of the king's health. Edward's constitution never had been strong, and his early accession to the cares and splendour of royalty could not but be injurious. In April, 1552, he was attacked by the measles and the smallpox, which still further weakened him. At Christmas, the festivities of that season were celebrated by the court with all the show and indulgence usual during the late reign, but laid aside for some years on account of the king's youth. The excitement and unusual indulgences brought forward consumptive symptoms; a cough came on; the usual manifestations of diseased lungs were apparent. A fatal result was generally apprehended, though there were at times the favourable changes incident to this flattering disease. Northumberland felt the instability of his present position: he thought to make himself secure by boldly grasping at

still higher power. His first measure was to form alliances between his family and others of the first rank: one between lady Jane Grey and his fourth son, lord Guildford Dudley; another between his daughter Catherine and lord Hastings; a third between Cathe rine, the sister of lady Jane Grey, and the heir of the earl of Pembroke. These marriages were celebrated with much pomp about the middle of May, 1553.

In the next month, Northumberland began to carry into effect his further designs. By working upon the king's fears as to the fatal results to the nation, espe cially to the Reformation, if his sister Mary should succeed to the throne, he prevailed upon Edward to set aside both his sisters, and to promote the succession to the throne of the lady Jane Grey, who, upon he mother's relinquishing her own claim, was next succes sor to the throne. The council, feeling themselves com mitted to follow Northumberland, agreed to the pla and furthered it. Cranmer alone steadily opposed th proceeding. The judges being consulted, declared the such a course would be treasonable. They were com manded to prepare for the royal signature an instr ment directing such a change in the succession, b did not comply till after several interviews with t king and council, and having a pardon granted the under the great seal for preparing such a documen

On June 21st, this instrument was completed by t signatures of the king, and more than thirty of t principal nobility and judges; among them was Cr mer. The archbishop declared afterwards, that if could by any act of his doing have prevented suc measure, he would have so done, and that he only c sented to affix his name at the especial command the king. Judge Hales, a decided Protestant, contin stedfastly to refuse to sign the instrument. It is evid that Northumberland had not influence or power al to effect such a change as was here contemplated. was the result of a combination of the leading fami of the nobility, assisted by the anxious feelings of

king. It was another effort of the aristocracy to regain the power that body had exercised during the preceding centuries. The youthful lady Jane and her husband would have been mere puppets at their disposal, succeeding on a defective title, instead of the bigoted and resolute Mary, already prepared to admit foreign influence to maintain her own authority. It is important to notice the refusal of Cranmer to sanction the measure; it clearly shows that the plan did not arise from the chief supporters of the Reformation, though the idea of strengthening the Protestant religion might act upon the mind of Edward himself, weakened by disease, probably unable or unwilling to consider the direful effects likely to result to the nation from a disputed succession to the throne.

The king was now sinking rapidly; but a few days later he gave legal sanction to a plan formed some months before, when bishop Ridley preached before him, and said so much on the duties of charity and liberality. After the sermon, the king sent for Ridley, and requested that, as he had shown what was his duty, he would now say in what manner he should perform it. The bishop was much affected, and asked leave to consult with the mayor and aldermen of London, on the best method of relieving the poor. In a few days he returned with a plan, dividing the poor into three classes: those who were not in their right minds; the sick and destitute; and the wilfully idle and depraved. The king ordered the Grey Friars' monastery, and the lands belonging to it, to be endowed as a school, now Christ's hospital; Bridewell and Bethlehem were established for idle, dissolute characters, and for the insane; and St. Bartholomew's hospital for the reception of sick and maimed persons. A provision was also made for the relief of poor housekeepers. Edward hastened the appropriation of these endowments; on signing the charters on June 26, 1553, when he was so weak as scarcely to be able to hold his pen, he thanked God for sparing his life till he had executed this