352

CHARACTER OF MORE.

[1534.

supremacy of the Apostolic See and the temporal interests of the hierarchy were left untouched. In his early years, before the minds of the people had begun to be agitated by the first workings of the new opinions,-in the repose of literary and philosophic retirement, when all was as yet bright and settled around him, he could indulge in speculations which carried the freedom of human opinion to the very borders of scepticism,-he availed himself to the utmost of the liberty of private thought, and, deeply interested for the cause of reviving literature, exposed with unsparing severity its cloistered and cowled opponents. But when the storm began to howl around him, and the pillars of those ancient and venerable institutions in which he had been educated were seen tottering under the ground-swell of the Reformation, he evidently dreaded the consequences of a convulsion of which he had himself been an unconscious instrument, though he had not been able to anticipate the conclusion. Hence the early boldness of his youth, and the superstitious timidity of his latter days. It is more difficult to find an apology for his intolerance,-his practical, and even personal severities to those he esteemed heretics. The object which he wished to accomplish must have been to impose silence, and not to create conviction; for he had early declared that no man could be constrained into a particular belief: And here, before we pronounce with too much severity upon this unquestionable blot on his amiable character, let it be remembered that toleration, though essentially a Christian principle, was in that age a stranger alike to the creed of Protestants and Catholics; and that persecution for re

1535.]

HENRY'S CRUELTY DEtested.

353

ligious opinion did not riot only in the proceedings of such bigots as Bonner and Gardiner, but polluted also the placid, unbiassed, and charitable intellect of Cranmer.

Henry had now gratified his revenge and immolated his victim; but that victim was one of the most illustrious and virtuous men of his age, and the news of his execution was received, not at home only, but throughout Europe, with a universal cry of horror and detestation. Englishmen who were employed abroad found their country the object of dread and abhorrence. Erasmus, at that time the greatest living scholar, and whose works were read with avidity in every nation which had been visited by the light of reviving letters, composed a minute and affecting account of his trial and death. He had long been the dear friend of More, and was so intimately acquainted with his character and virtues that his treatise possessed the fidelity of a portrait. In Italy, the Romish Church claimed him as one of the greatest of her martyrs; and Cardinal Pole, an illustrious exile, and nearly related to the royal family, denounced the cruelty of his kinsman in strains of the most severe and affecting eloquence. When, too, the Emperor Charles the Fifth was informed of the execution, he sent for Sir Thomas Elliot, the English ambassador at his court, and thus addressed him:-" My Lord Ambassador, we understand the king, your master, has put to death his faithful servant, and grave and wise councillor, Sir Thomas More." To which Elliot answered, that he had heard nothing of it. "Well," said the emperor, "it is too true; and this will we say, that if we

354

OBSERVATION OF CHARLES V.

[1535,

had been master of such a servant, of whose abilities ourself have had these many years no small experience, we would rather have lost the best city in our dominions than so worthy a councillor."* Even Henry himself appears to have been touched with compunction on the occasion. We are informed, that when an account of the last scene was brought him, being at that time playing at tables with the queen, he cast his eyes upon her and said, "Thou art the cause of this man's death!" after which, rising up, he immediately left his play, and shut himself up in his chamber in great perturbation of mind.

* British Biography, vol. ii. p. 97.

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HENRY'S ADVANCES TO THE POPE. 355

CHAPTER VII.

Henry excommunicated—Suppression of Monasteries— Fall of Anne Boleyn-War with France-Tyranny, Caprice, and Death of the King.

Henry publicly excommunicated-Kingdom laid under an Interdict-Suppression of Monasteries-Appropriation of their Revenues-Death of Queen Catherine-Fall of Anne BoleynMarriage of the King to Jane Seymour-Articles of ReligionDeath of the Queen-Henry's Tyranny-He marries Anne of Cleves-Fall of Cromwell-Henry marries Catherine Howard— Her Execution-War with France, and with Scotland-Murder of Beaton-Henry marries Catherine Parr-Ascendency of the Romish Party-Execution of the Earl of Surrey-Trial and Condemnation of the Duke of Norfolk-Death of Henry the Eighth -His Character-Reflections on his Reign.

THE history of this monarch is perpetually putting us in mind of the remark of Lord Herbert, "that it is impossible to draw his picture well who hath several countenances." On the death of Clement, whom he regarded with a rooted enmity, Henry appears to have made advances to his successor, Paul the Third, empowering Sir Gregory de Casalis to confer with the new Pontiff on the cause so long under the consideration of the Papal See. The application, it is probable, met with some favour; but when intelligence arrived in Italy of the extraordinary severities used to those who denied the king's supremacy, of the execution of several monks who had refused the oath,

356

HENRY IS EXCOMMUNICATED.

[1535. and above all, of the death of Fisher and More, a sudden revolution took place in the sentiments of the Roman hierarchy. By a Bull, dated August 30, Paul, in the severest language which could be employed, warned the king to repent of the grievous sins which he had committed in the divorce of Queen Catherine, the marriage with Anne Boleyn, and the promulgation of the laws against the Papal authority. If he should refuse obedience, he cited him to appear at Rome within ninety days, and give his answer; and if he neglected this, he, by the same Bull, declared him to be excommunicated, pronounced the kingdom to be under an interdict, declared the issue by Anne illegitimate, interdicted his subjects from paying him allegiance, forbade other states from engaging in commerce with England, set free all foreign princes from the leagues which bound them to that country, commanded the clergy to depart forth of the realm, and enjoined the nobility to take arms against their sovereign.* Although this Bull was not instantly made public, the monarch against whom it was directed was soon informed of its contents, and with the object of strengthening himself against the terrors of the Popedom, and the formidable power of its ally the emperor, he opened a negotiation with the Protestant princes of Germany. In this he was joined by Francis the First, who, with no very serious convictions of religion, but rather under the influence of political ambition, began at this time to show some favour to the opinions of the Reformers. Henry endeavoured also about the same period to engage his nephew, James the Fifth of ScotHerbert, p. 184. Wilkins' Concilia, vol. iii. p. 792.

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