1521, renewed that dignity, which was afterwards confirmed by CLEMENT the Seventh, in consequence of HENRY the Eighth having written an answer, then much esteemed, to LUTHER'S book on the Babylonian Captivity. Upon the suppression of the Monasteries, the Pope issued a bull, annulling this title; but his attempt was as futile in that respect, as was his silly effort to depose that Sovereign; the English Parliament, in the 35th year of HENRY's reign, established it beyond the power of change from foreign interposition, giving that Monarch not only a complete confirmation of the title, but the power of exercising it. The Pope's supremacy in England was totally suppressed, and the King acknowledged SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH as well as of the STATE; thereby laying the foundation of that REFORMATION which was afterwards so completely and happily accomplished

to our Creator, who has raised up such a Prince, to defend his Church, and this holy Sec. Most humbly beseeching him bountifully to bestow on this great Prince a most happy life, and all other good things that he can wish for; and after this life to crown him in his celestial kingdom with a crown of eternal glory. We to our power, by GoD's assistance, shall not be wanting in the performance of any thing that may tend to the honour and dignity of his Majesty, and to his and his kingdom's glory."

LEO is stated by many authors to have accompanied this letter by the present of a CARDINAL'S CAP, from which circumstance it is alleged HENRY the Eighth is generally delineated with a cap of that description on his head instead of a crown.

in this kingdom. HENRY was extremely vain of the compliment the Pope had bestowed upon him, and eager to retain it; he even felt no offence at the silly and gross flattery with which LEO addressed him: "It is certain," were the words of the Pope, "that you have been inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT, and that if those against whom you have written were men, and not the worst of devils, they must have been converted." PATCH, the King's Jester, could not suffer such weakness and vanity to pass unnoticed: "Prithee, good HARRY," said this arch fellow, "let thee and I defend one another, and even let the faith defend itself." HENRY took this sarcasm without offence. PATCH, as the Court Fool, was a privileged character, and, like his predecessors, could be severe with impunity: their occupation was to create mirth, no matter at whose expence, and when absent, others were indulged with their jokes, and even paid for them; among the private disbursement for EDWARD the Second, is found a charge of a crown for making the "King laugh." The celebrated SIR THOMAS MORE did not, however, escape the effects of the Monarch's vanity; that noble character could not reconcile to his mind the propriety of the assumed supremacy, but he opposed it not; though his refusal to give his opinion alone, cost him the tribute of his life. For this alleged treason he was condemned to be hung, drawn, and quartered! HENRY mitigated the sentence to

the more honourable punishment of decapitation; when" this mercy of his Highness" was communicated to SIR THOMAS, he desired the messenger to express to the King all that was suitable to the occasion; adding, "God preserve you, Sir, and all other good men, from such benign clemency."

HENRY the Eighth was the first KING OF ENGLAND who assumed the title of MAJESTY, which is still retained. Before that reign, the Sovereigns were usually addressed by the style of "My LIEGE," and "YOUR GRACE," the latter of which epithets was originally conferred on HENRY the Fourth; "EXCELLENT GRACE," was given to HENRY the Sixth; "MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE," to EDWARD the Fourth; "HIGHNESS" to HENRY the Seventh; which last expression, was sometimes used to HENRY the Eighth, and sometimes GRACE; until near the end of his reign, when they gave way to the more lofty and appropriate appellation of MAJESTY, being the expression with which FRANCIS the First addressed him at their interview in 1520. The Emperor CHARLES the Fifth had, a short period before, taken that high-sounding title; and the polished French Monarch lost not so favourable an opportunity, of complimenting our then youthful HENRY. Pope LEO the Tenth, in his letter already recited, adopted the title of MAJESTY as the acknowledged style of this King. (See page 41.) ELIZABETH was variously addressed by the titles

of your "GRACE," "HIGHNESS," "GRACE'S HIGHNESS," and "MAJESTY." JAMES the First took the style of "SACRED MAJESTY," and "MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY," which, and also " MOST GraCIOUS MAJESTY," are applied to our present venerable Monarch.

The term MAJESTY was borrowed from the Romans, among whom it was first applied to the Republic, as " Majestas populi Romani" (Cicero.) It was afterwards bestowed on the Magistrates "Majestas Consulum" (Livy.) And ultimately it became confined to the Emperors, "Regia Majestas" (Claud.) "Sancta Majestas" (Ovid.) In the 9th century, Pope JOHN the Eighth gave the title of MAJESTY to CHARLES THE BALd, of France; and in the 13th century YVES DE CHARTRES bestowed it on PHILIP THE FAIR. Pope ALEXANDER THE Third, in the 12th century, was addressed by the title of MAJESTY, a compliment that was continued to his successor LUKE THE Third. HUGH Count of Champagne, arrogated to himself this title in the 12th century, and in concluding a document expressly declares that he had sealed it, "Sigillo Majestatis nostræ,"— with the seal of our Majesty. BRUNON, Bishop of Langres, also assumed this dignity, but he does not appear to have been so styled by any other person, as he had ordered. In one of his deeds he says of himself," Nostram Majestatem,”—our Majesty. To all these, other instances might be adduced, of the Sovereigns and ecclesiastical Rulers in

the middle ages having received, or themselves taken, the title of MAJESTY. By degrees, however, the EMPERORS subsequently made an effort (in imitation of the Roman Emperors) to confine this flattering dignity to themselves; and it was, in fact, for a considerable time almost discontinued. When CHARLES the Fifth revived the title of MAJESTY in his own person, he not only assumed it as EMPEROR, but as KING of Spain; and from his example the monarchs of Spain have retained the title to the present day, being previously entitled to HIGHNESS alone. CHARLES was extremely vain of this, and of his various other titles: when writing to his rival, FRANCIS the First of France, he filled a considerable portion of his paper by displaying his several dignities, but FRANCIS, who had before competed with him even for the Empire, felt insulted by this ostentation, and in his answer satirically occupied an equal space in the recital of his own titles, by the mere repetition of the word FRANCE, "Francis the Ist. King of France, France, France, &c. &c.

When the term HIGHNESS gave way to MAJESTY, as the Regal style, it was suffered to remain dormant for upwards of a century. About the year 1630, however, the petty PRINCES OF ITALY were complimented with it, and in a short period afterwards CROMWELL, as Protector, was styled HIGHNESS, which title he retained during the usurpation. In 1631, the DUKE OF ORLEANS as

med the more lofty appellation of ROYAL HIGH