CHAP. XXXI. Religious principles of the people of the king of the - Sir Thomas More - The maid of Kent King excommunicated Trial Death Suppreffion of the leffer mo A Parliament Translation of the Bible Linne ament Her trial- and execution A Convocation people- Infurrection Birth of prince Edward Suppreffion of the great er monafteries Cardinal Pole. XXXI. 1534. principles of THE ancient and almost uninterrupted opposi- c H A P. tion of interefts between the laity and clergy in England, and between the English clergy and the court of Rome, had fufficiently prepared the Religious nation for a breach with the fovereign pontiff; the people. and men had penetration enough to difcover abufes, which were plainly calculated for the temporal advantages of the hierarchy, and which they found deftructive of their own. Thefe fubjects feemed proportioned to human understanding; and even the people, who felt the power of intereft in their own breafts, could perceive the purpose of those numerous inventions, which XXXI. 1534. CHAP. the interested spirit of the Roman pontiff had introduced into religion. But when the reformers proceeded thence to difpute concerning the na ture of the facraments, the operations of grace, the terms of acceptance with the Deity, men were thrown into amazement, and were, during fome time, at a lofs how to chufe their party. The profound ignorance in which both the clergy and laity formerly lived, and their freedom from theological altercations, had produced a fincere, but indolent acquiefcence in received opinions; and the multitude were neither attached to them by topics of reafoning, nor by thofe prejudices and antipathies against opponents, which have ever a more natural and powerful influence over them. As foon therefore as a new opinion was advanced, fupported by fuch an authority as to call up their attention, they felt their capacity totally unfitted for fuch difquifi. tions; and they perpetually fluctuated between the contending parties. Hence the quick and violent movements by which the people were agitated, even in the most oppofite directions; Hence their feeming prostitution, in facrificing to prefent power the most facred principles: And hence the rapid progrefs during fome time, and the fudden as well as entire check foon after, of the new doctrines. When men were once fettled in their particular fects, and had fortified themfelves in a habitual deteftation of those who were denominated heretics, they adhered with more obftinacy to the principles of their education; and the limits of the two religions thenceforth CHA P. remained fixed and unchangeable. NOTHING more forwarded the first progrefs of the reformers, than the offer, which they made, of fubmitting all religious doctrines to private judgment, and the fummons given every one to examine the principles formerly impofed upon him. Though the multitude were totally unqualined for this undertaking, they yet were highly pleased with it. They fancied, that they were exercifing their judgment, while they oppofed, to the prejudices of ancient authority, more powerful prejudices of another kind. The novelty itfelf of the doctrines; the pleasure of an imaginary triumph in difpute; the fervent zeal of the reformed preachers; their patience, and even alacrity, in fuffering perfecution, death, and torments; a difguft at the reftraints of the old religion; an indignation against the tyranny and interested fpirit of the ecclefiaftics; these motives were prevalent with the people, and by fuch confiderations were men fo generally induced, during. that age, to throw off the religion of their ancestors. BUT in proportion as the practice of fubmitting religion to private judgment was acceptable to the people, it appeared, in fome refpects, dangerous to the rights of fovereigns, and feemed to destroy that implicit obedience, on which the authority of the civil magiftrate is chiefly founded. The very precedent, of fhaking fo ancient and deep founded an establishment as that XXXI. 1534. XXXI. 1534. CHAP. of the Romish hierarchy, might, it was appres hended, prepare the way for other innovations. The republican spirit, which naturally took place among the reformers, increafed this jealoufy. The furious infurrections of the populace, excited by Muncer and other anabaptifts in Germany', furnished a new pretence for decrying the reformation. Nor ought we to conclude, because proteftants in our time prove as dutiful fubjects as those of any other communion, that therefore fuch apprehenfions were altogether without any fhadow of plaufibility. Though the liberty of private judgment be tendered to the difciples of the reformation, it is not in reality accepted of; and men are generally contented to acquiefce implicitly in those establishments, however new, into which their early education has thrown them. No prince in Europe was poffeffed of fuch abfolute authority as Henry, not even the pope himfelf, in his own capital, where he united both the civil and ecclefiaftical powers'; and there was fmall likelihood, that any doctrine, which lay under the imputation of encouraging fedition, could ever pretend to his favor and Of the king. Countenance. But befides this political jealousy, there was another reafon, which infpired this imperious monarch with an averfion to the reformers. He had early declared his fentiments against Luther; and having entered the lifts in thofe fcholaftic quarrels, he had received, from Sleidan, lib. 4. & 5. See note [F] at the end of the volume. I 2 his С НА Р. XXXI 1534. his courtiers and theologians, infinite applaufe CHA P. for his performance. Elated by this imaginary fuccefs, and blinded by a natural arrogance and obftinacy of temper, he had entertained the most lofty opinion of his own erudition; and he received with impatience, mixed with contempt, any contradiction to his fentiments. Luther alfo had been fo imprudent, as to treat in a very indecent manner his royal antagonist; and though he afterwards made the most humble fubmiffions to Henry, and apologized for the vehemence of his former expreffions, he never could efface the hatred, which the king had conceived against him and his doctrines. The idea of herefy still appeared deteftable as well as formidable to that prince; and whilst his refentment against the fee of Rome had corrected one confiderable part of his early prejudices, he had made it a point of honor never to relinquish the remainder. Separate as he stood from the catholic church and from the Roman pontiff, the head of it, he ftill valued himself on maintaining the catholic doctrine, and on guarding, by fire and fword, the imagined purity of his fpeculative principles. HENRY'S minifters and courtiers were of as of the mimotley a character as his conduct; and feemed to nifters. waver, during this whole reign, between the ancient and the new religion. The queen, engaged by interest as well as inclination, favored the caufe of the reformers: Cromwel, who was created fecretary of state, and who was daily advancing in the king's confidence, had embraced the |