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they created a reaction towards Catholicism. laws against Lollards and the law of the Six Articles were repealed; the pictures in the churches were covered with whitewash, while the images were taken away; an alteration was made in the mode of 5 administering the communion; an English catechism was drawn up, and an English prayer-book was put forth.

More than this, persons were sent to prison and even put to death for clinging to the faith of their fathers. The lesson of 6 toleration has proved very hard to learn. In the nineteenth century, people may hold any religious opinions they please; in the sixteenth, whatever party happened to be in power tried to force its views upon everybody else. Even the saintly More willingly joined in the work of punishing heretics.

But persecution is especially a blot upon the early reformers. They had set up their own consciences against the authority of the Church, and yet they refused to others that liberty of conscience which they claimed for themselves.

Most of Henry's changes had the hearty approval of no small part of the population, and, furthermore, did not appeal very directly to daily experience. When, in suppressing the monasteries, he did make an alteration which came under the 7 observation of the masses, there was a dangerous rebellion against him, strong ruler as he was. Most of Somerset's changes had the approval only of the Protestants, and, furthermore, did appeal very directly to daily experience. Whenever people went to church they missed the familiar pictures and images, they saw the service 9 shorn of all that had been most attractive, and heard 10 homilies read from the pulpit against those things they had been in the habit of considering holy. We miss what we have been accustomed to, and our regret at its loss often bears no proportion to its 11 intrinsic value; hence it is not surprising that the change in 12 ritual created more dissatisfaction than the change in supremacy.

1 Edward VI., the son of Henry VIII. His mother was Jane Seymour, Henry's third wife. 2 the Earl of Hertford, Edward Seymour, the brother of Jane Seymour. 3 the law of the Six Articles is the law referred to on page 76. Six of the doctrines of the Catholic Church were declared in it to be agreeable to the law of God, and persons denying them were to be punished. 4 repeal, to do away with a law. 5 administer, to serve, give out. 6 toleration, the allowing people to hold what opinions they please. 7 observation, notice. 8 rebellion, the "Pilgrimage of Grace."

9 shear, to cut off. 10 homily, a sermon. 11 intrinsic value, the value which a thing has of itself. 12 ritual, rites, mode of conducting a service.

THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

THE violent changes in the laws relating to religion were not the only causes of discontent during the reign of Edward VI. The demand for English wool was so great that the rearing of sheep became more profitable than the growing of corn, and much ground that had formerly been under cultivation was converted into pasturage. Labourers were thus thrown out of work, and wandered about begging, sometimes stealing. The landlords, too, had taken to robbing the poor by enclosing the commons which were scattered up and down the country.

The result of all these causes was a general discontent which expressed itself in serious risings. These risings in a large measure caused the overthrow of Somerset. They were held to be due to his bad government, and to the fact that he had led the people to hope for his support. He also showed great weakness in his attempts to restore order. For these and many other reasons he was forced to resign, and the chief power passed into the hands of the Earl of Warwick, another member of the council,

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This was more a change than an improvement. 2 incompetent man who, though not unmindful of his personal interests, did really care for what he thought to be the good of the country, had given place to an able man who cared little about anything except his own good. The second ruled very much as the first had done. Just as the first had got himself made Duke of Somerset, the second got himself made Duke of Northumberland; each enriched himself and his friends with the spoils of the monasteries, and each carried on the work of Reformation in the same unwise

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way. When the new minister had wielded power long enough to become unpopular, the old one tried to supplant him, but, failing, was beheaded.

Edward had never been strong, and it was seen at length that he would not reach manhood. With the death of the young king the Duke of Northumberland's power would cease, because by the will of Henry the crown would then pass to Catherine's daughter Mary, and she would be certain to dismiss him. He therefore resolved that, if he could hinder it, she should not come to the throne. Edward (who was far more forward than youths of his age usually are) felt great concern for the progress of Protestantism, so Northumberland pointed out to him that the good work would suffer if any one professing the old faith succeeded him. The king was persuaded to make a will, leaving the crown to 3 Lady Jane Grey, though he had no authority whatever to alter the succession. Besides, if the Catholicism of Mary was an objection, there was no such objection to Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne Boleyn. The truth is that Northumberland was moved, not by zeal for the interests of Protestantism, but by zeal for his own interests, Lady Jane Grey having just married his son, Lord Guilford Dudley. The scheme was barely in time; in less than a month the 5 last male of the Tudor line was dead.

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2 1 Pasturage, grazing land. incompetent, wanting in ability. 3 Lady Jane Grey, the great-grand-daughter of Henry VII. See genealogical table, page 222. authority. Henry VIII. had been allowed by Parliament to settle the succession; no such power had been granted to Edward. 5 the last male, Edward VI.

LADY JANE GREY.

PERHAPS in the whole of our history there is no one on whom the memory dwells so lovingly as on Lady Jane Grey. The admiration which we feel for her beauty, her virtues, and her accomplishments is heightened by the pity we feel for her cruel death. She was only sixteen when Edward died, yet she wrote Latin as well as she wrote English, she read Greek for pleasure, and she had begun to study Hebrew. And her goodness was as great as her ability: she was gentle, affectionate, and pious.

Being married so young to a husband little older than herself, Lady Jane begged that she might continue to live with 1 her mother, and her request was granted. She knew nothing of the 2 ambitious schemes of her 3 father-in-law till Edward was on the point of death, when she was told that she must go to the duke's house, there to stay till "God should call the king to his mercy"; then she would proceed to the Tower and take upon herself the duties of queen. She thought that people were playing a trick upon her, and took no notice of the order to change her residence till the Duchess of Northumberland came herself to fetch her. Even then the poor girl would not go till commanded by her husband.

Three days after the death of Edward she was taken to 5 Sion House. There her father-in-law informed her that the king was no more, and that she was queen of England. She shook, covered her face in her hands, and fell fainting to the ground. To grief for the loss of Edward (who had been her playfellow) was joined dread of the awful responsibility which had come upon her.

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