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have been studiously repeated by modern Romish historians. They quote all Pole's scandalous and false slanders as valid authority, forgetting the vast mass of documentary evidence still existing, which sufficiently prove that his assertions were false. The cause of his malignity is evident. Queen Catherine contemplated a union between him and the princess Mary, whose affections Pole engaged; this, and his being himself of the royal blood, gave him a prospect of the throne, which was done away by the marriage with queen Anne; then his only chance of gratifying his ambition was the removal of Henry himself.

While Pole entertained these hopes, he was unwilling to take orders, which would prevent his marrying the princess; but the emperor did not wish to see Pole a temporal prince. The pope, therefore, was directed to require him to be made a priest, and created him a cardinal. Pole very unwillingly consented to receive an honour he could not refuse. However, he was obliged to comply, and thus was made, according to the doctrines of Romanism, one of the successors of the apostles; and strange to say, there are nominal Protestants who would consider him as such! In his book, he had just declared the dignity of the priesthood, asserting that kings were inferior to them in all things, and that he had doubted whether the priests should be called ambassadors from the people to God, or from God to the people; he blasphemously added, "I doubt whether I ought not to call them gods themselves!" He was now fairly caught in his own trap, and no way of retreat was left; he was committed to the contest against his king and benefactor, and ever after showed the deepest personal rancour towards Henry. The first duties imposed on the cardinal were to take his station in Flanders, and from thence to communicate with the popish malcontents in England. His business was, as his own biographer states, "to excite the Catholics in England." Henry offered a reward for the apprehension of this rebel;

for although the insurrections had mostly been put down before Pole arrived at his appointed station, he exerted himself to fulfil his commission, urging the pope to publish full denunciations against the king of England; but Paul's policy kept him as yet from these extravagant proceedings, which would only compromise his own authority.

The hopes excited in the minds of the papists by the fall and death of queen Anne, were shown in other proceedings besides these insurrections. They were not only alarmed at the removal and destruction of superstitions-the progress of truth was still more threatening. Tindal's translation of the New Testament has already been noticed; considerable numbers of this invaluable book were brought secretly into England, and sold privately among the people; and now the advantages resulting from the previous labours of the Lollards were evident. The Reformation in England was not, as in some other countries, chiefly confined to the learned and higher or middle ranks. The people had, in many districts, long known scriptural truths in the humble written copies of Wickliffe's translation, many of which are still found in our public libraries, showing by their contrast to the more elaborate and ornamented manuscripts upon other subjects, that they were written for the people, and adapted for their wants. By them the printed Testaments of Tindal were eagerly received. They were cheaper than written copies; their price was within the means of the working classes; they were more easily read and understood; as a friar, who sold them secretly, is recorded to have told some Essex labourers, they were "clener Englyshe." The language of Tindal's Testament has been, in fact, the English of the people from that time to the present day. The copies were prized by thousands; even apprentices possessed themselves of the words of their Saviour, and concealed the book in their bedding to read in secret. Encouraged by this desire to possess the Scriptures,

and patronized by Cranmer and the queen, the translators of the Bible had brought forth their work. The first complete translation was made by Miles Coverdale, probably with the assistance of others. This was dedicated to queen Anne, but only a few copies had been issued when she was beheaded. Another dedication to queen Jane was substituted. Meanwhile Tindal proceeded with his translation, but having been entrapped by the officers of the emperor, he was put to death in Flanders, in 1536, his last words being a prayer, “Lord, open the king of England's eyes!" His translation was revised, and finished under the direction of Cranmer.

Immediately upon the death of Anne, the papists made an effort in the convocation, or parliament of the clergy, to stop the translation of the Scriptures into English, and to stay the progress of the Reformation. But the king's councils were influenced by Cromwell and Cranmer, and he himself saw the necessity of separating from the pope. The convocation was directed to reform the rites and ceremonies of the church. Four of the Romish sacraments were abolished, parts of the public service were ordered to be read in English, and English Bibles were to be set up in churches, and many assembled to hear the word of God read aloud by those able to do so. Thus the great question of admitting scriptural truth was settled, and before its light the darkness of superstition and ignorance must always recede. But much remained to be done. The works then set forth by authority for instruction are not free from papal error. The proceedings of the prelates at this period, including those of Cranmer, show that the movement was greater among the people than among their rulers. It is important to refer to this as an ascertained fact, since this alone is enough to disprove one of the assertions of modern Romanists and their abettors, too readily listened to by nominal Protestants, namely, that the Reformation in England was a political work-it was not so. In England, the

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strongest marks of attachment to the Reformation from popery ever have been shown by the voice of the people at large. The king's own mind was but par tially enlightened; he clung to many deadly errors of popery, but he found his political measures strengthened by listening to the public voice. That Henry really desired to benefit his subjects, whenever his own unbridled will did not interfere, appears from his readiness in granting the request made about this time by the leading men of Wales, that the English laws and privileges might be extended to them. This was the way firmly to unite the two countries.

Early in 1537, an insurrection again broke out in the northern counties, and great severity was shown in its suppression. On October the 12th, in this year, the king was gratified by the birth of a son, afterwards Edward vi.; but the national grief was excited by the death of the queen a few days afterwards, from her taking cold, and being allowed to eat improper food. To speak in ordinary terms, this was an untoward event, and led to those subsequent difficulties respecting the king's wives which are often used against him. Queen Jane was lamented; her untimely death was a rebuke upon the haste with which she had consented to occupy the station of another. Yet these hasty nuptials had been productive of good, by preventing Henry from making terms with the pope, who offered to make up the breach as soon as he heard of the death of Anne. This union also gave the nation a Protestant king, whose reign, though short, did much to establish the English Reformation. Henry desired to repair his loss without delay. The emperor recommended to his notice the duchess of Milan; but she is said to have declined the honour, stating she had only one head, but if she had two, one should be at his majesty's service! A just reproof for his cruelty to queen Anne; but it is said the duchess was herself a light character, therefore, perhaps, was conscious that she would be in danger.

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