THE

HISTORY

OF

PROTESTANT NONCONFORMITY.

CHAPTER I.

HENRY VIII.

The Reformation—Causes of—Revival of Learning-England prepared for the Reformation-Wycliffe - Early Statutes against Heresy-Sufferings of the Lollards favourable to their Cause-State of the English Church on the Accession of Henry VIII.—His Zeal for the Papacy-Writes against Luther-Defender of the FaithLuther's Reply-Commission to search after Luther's Works-Tyndale's New Testament-Sir Thomas More writes against the Reformers-Change in the Policy of the King-Scruples respecting his Marriage-Applies to the Pope for a Divorce-Appeals to the Universities-Divorce pronounced by Cranmer-Influence thereof on the Ecclesiastical Policy of Henry-Measures hostile to the Papacy -Majority of the Nation adverse to the King's Measures-Indefinite Nature of the King's Supremacy.

I.

VIII.

The Reforma

THE Reformation of religion in the sixteenth CHAP. century is one of the most memorable transactions which the annals of mankind record. It stands HENRY out from the ordinary course of events, as an epoch in the history of the human mind to which there is tion. nothing parallel since the origin of Christianity. Resulting from causes which had been long in operation, it extended beyond the most sanguine

I.

VIII.

CHAP. hope of its first promoters. It commenced apparently in accidental circumstances, and was consequently HENRY regarded with indifference by those who were most interested in its suppression. Too intent on the promotion of their ambitious and criminal schemes; or too ignorant of the nature of man to form an enlightened estimate of the influences which determine his conduct; they failed to recognize the secret causes which had shaped the course, and were daily giving a character of increased decision to the movements, of Luther. They regarded his opposition to the mission of Tetzel as but an indication of the jealousy of his order. Such contentions

Causes of.

between the different orders of the Roman church had been too frequent to induce much concern. They had hitherto excited but little notice. The authority of the pontiff had been equally respected by both parties; while some point of precedence, some question of privilege, some subtle and scarcely definable dogma, however important it might appear to excited and interested disputants, was too trifling to engage general attention. It had therefore been the usual policy of the Papacy to remain a silent spectator of such contests. The exertion of its authority was reserved for more important occasions; when it interposed with a promptitude and energy which invariably compassed its end.

But in the case of Luther there were causes in operation, of which neither himself nor Leo was a competent judge. The most sagacious observer might well have been deceived in estimating the character and probable results of his undertaking. He was but the voice of the public mind; the development of a feeling which had been in

The CHAP.

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VIII.

creasingly prevalent for generations past. Reformation was an effect as well as a cause; it resulted from the operation of influences which had HENRY been daily gathering strength throughout Europe. The tendency of events had occasionally been checked; the waters of the advancing tide had been thrown back; but they uniformly returned with augmented power, carrying on their bosom the seeds of a moral renovation, which they were destined to scatter through the earth.

learning.

The revival of learning, and the invention of the Revival of art of printing, had given a new impetus to the human mind. Arousing itself, like a strong man after sleep, it began to look around with an inquisitive and penetrating eye. Ancient boundaries were overstept; the landmarks which pointed out the limits of former research were despised as the memorials of barbarian ignorance; and an appeal was prosecuted from the decisions of authority, to the nature of man, and the obvious purposes of human society. An extensive alteration was immediately effected in the habits of human thought. The intellect of man asserted its supremacy: it rose to an elevation, from which it could take a wide and enlightened survey of the complicated interests of life. The master spirits of the age soon proclaimed their deliverance from an irrational and degrading bondage, and called on the nations of Europe to assert the dignity of their nature, and to restore the purity of their faith. The reformers of the church were preceded by the restorers of learning. The seeds of intellectual renovation had been widely scattered, and had borne much fruit, before Luther and his associates appeared. The public mind of

I.

CHAP. Europe was in consequence prepared to respond to their call. Religious reformers had previously HENRY appeared; but, in the supineness and ignorance of their contemporaries, they encountered obstacles which no diligence or zeal could surmount. But when the Saxon monk reprobated the impiety and despotism of Rome; when he raised the standard of revolt against a power which had uniformly crushed its opponents for a thousand years past, he was sustained by the almost universal conviction of the public mind, that that power was abused in its exercise, if not illegal in its nature. The human mind was not then in the stagnant and quiescent state in which it had been; its faculties were aroused and pushed into action; it was prepared to listen to Luther's statements, and to yield itself to the stirring influences with which they were fraught.

England pre

pared for the

The Reformation had made considerable progress Reformation. in Germany, and other parts of Europe, before its character was extensively known in England. This country, however, was not wholly unprepared for its reception; though the character of the monarch, the wealth of the clergy, and the severity of the laws against heretics, greatly reduced the probability of its successful diffusion. Upwards of a century and a half before the time of Luther, Wycliffe had exposed the superstition and despotism of Rome. Born in the early part of the fourteenth century, he anticipated the discoveries of his more fortunate successors; and laboured with an assiduity and rectitude of purpose, which entitle him to the admiration and gratitude of posterity." Though his labours did

a Wycliffe strenuously maintained there were but two classes

of officers appointed by the legislation of Christ. "By the ordi

I.

VIII.

against here

not effect an alteration in the ecclesiastical polity of CHAP. his country, they made an extensive and permanent impression. A numerous class of followers HENRY were raised up by the providence of God: these preserved the precious seed of the kingdom until more propitious days; and, though assailed by the fiercest persecutions, were enabled to hand down the sacred deposit to the times of the Lutheran reformation." The success which attended Wycliffe's labours Early statutes aroused the jealous and intolerant spirit of the tics. popish clergy. In conformity with their usual practice, they availed themselves of the secular aid, by inviting the sword of the magistrate to subdue or exterminate the enemies of the church. The propriety of punishing capitally for matters of opinion had long been recognized in the papal code; and the history of Europe had afforded many instances of atrocity occurring under the operation of this principle. In the year 1382, being two years prior to the Richard II. death of Wycliffe, an act, entitled, "An act to commission sheriffs to apprehend preachers of heresy and their abettors," &c., was surreptitiously obtained by

But

nance of Christ," he says, "priests and bishops were all one. afterwards the emperor divided them, and made bishops lords, and priests their servants; and this was the cause of envy, and quenched much charity." In another place he observes, "I boldly assert one thing, viz., that in the primitive church, or in the time of Paul, two orders of the clergy were sufficient; that is, a priest and a deacon. In like manner I affirm, that, in the time of Paul, the presbyter and bishop were names of the same office."Vaughan's Life of Wycliffe, vol. ii., p. 275.-2 Ed.

The disciples of Wycliffe were termed Lollards, and were found in most parts of the kingdom. Knighton, a canon of Leicester, and a contemporary of Wycliffe, tells us, that in the year 1382, "Their number very much increased, and that, starting like saplings from the root of a tree, they were multiplied, and filled every place within the compass of the land." This language must undoubtedly be understood with some limitation; but we cannot mistake the inference to be drawn from it.-Ibid., p. 154.