ENGLISH HISTORY.

HENRY VI. (Concluded from page 206.) It has been stated, that from the time of the death of Henry v., there were disputes arose between the Bishop of Winchester and the Duke of Gloucester, in which the craft and adroitness of the ecclesiastic prevailed over the hasty temper and violent passions of the prince. Gloucester sought to be the governor of England during the infancy of his nephew, and the absence of his elder brother in France; but Beaufort contrived that he should have only the name of Protector, while the power was really lodged in a council of regency, in which he himself bore the rule. Even this limited influence of Gloucester was gradually diminished; his salary as protector was lessened from 8000 marks to 4000; and in 1429, when the king was only eight years old, the title of Protector was abolished, and the JULY, 1838.

king was crowned. Gloucester then acted merely as one of the council.

The reverses in France induced the English leaders there to desire that Henry should be crowned at Paris, and early in 1430 he set forth with a numerous retinue; but the alarm excited by the reports of the successes of Joan of Arc, rendered it necessary to enforce the attendance of the military, by a proclamation against those who deserted "for feare of the mayde." Henry did not advance from Calais till the news of her being taken prisoner was received. He was conducted to Paris in the following November, and in December he was crowned in the Church of Notre Dame, and returned to London in February, 1431. A minute account is preserved of the pageants displayed, and the amusements on this occasion both in Paris and London.

Turner remarks:- "The absurdities

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Assuredly, the pageants and shows on this occasion were suited to amuse the royal child; but they must have overshot the mark, and wearied him. Among the devices, several indicated that the bitter spirit of persecution had not slackened. At the coronation dinner in November, 1429, "" a sotiltie" (a device with figures made in paste) was exhibited, which represented the emperor Sigismund, by whose concurrence and treachery John Huss was entrapped and put to death. He was standing with Henry v., the persecutor of the English followers of Christ, and Henry vi. kneeling before them, with a ballad," or verses, against the Lollards, recommending the conduct of these monarchs as 66 giving example to kings that succeed." Nor were the persecutors idle. While the Bishop of Winchester, lately made Cardinal, influenced the government, the poor Lollards were harassed by fines, imprisonments, and Scourgings, and several were burned alive; but for particulars the reader must be referred to other histories, especially to that invaluable work, "The Actes and Monumentes of John Foxe," who gives numerous extracts from the register books kept by the bishops themselves. The bitter enmity of the church of Rome to the truths of Scripture, was shown at this period by the pope causing the bones of Wickliff to be dug up and burned. This was in 1428; the ashes were thrown into a brook which ran into the Severn, and were thus conveyed to the ocean; 66 an emblem," says Fuller, "of the wide diffusion of his doctrines all the world over." Let us not forget, that the great offence of Wickliff was his causing the Scriptures to be circulated in the language of the common people.

It is important for the reader to notice how closely the English monarchy was connected with the church of Rome, and how the power of its government was directed to rule and enslave the con

in popish errors, resisting the general and legitimate demand for reformation. From hence, in a great measure, proceeded that opposition, which in a few years divided the kingdom under the banners of two contending parties. The house of Lancaster, supported in its usurpations by the church of Rome, was compelled to be at enmity with all who, either from religious or political motives, sought to emancipate their country from usurped authority, both in civil and religious matters; and the cruel severities exercised upon all who differed from the Romish church, only increased the hatred and opposition which already appeared against the ruling powers. Persecution for conscience' sake always defeats itself in the end, though for a time it may seem to prevail. As the church of Rome was supported by the greater part of the nobility, so the " opinions," as the ancient doctrines of the gospel were falsely called, interested the people at large, and thus political feeling was mixed with what should have been kept wholly distinct. But this has ever been the case, not from any error in the principles of true religion, but from the evil passions which rule the hearts of men.

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In the spring of 1430, these discontents broke out into open violence. Tumultuous assemblies were held in the midland counties, where the persecutions of the bishops had been most violent, and the popular feeling was directed against monastic establishments, which have ever been the strongholds of popery and persecution. At Abingdon an attack was made on the monastery, which, like many similar establishments, had been used as a place of imprisonment for persecuted saints. The regency sent the Duke of Gloucester with an armed force, and this tumult, which does not appear to have been an organized effort, was easily suppressed, and the leader executed. This disturbance does not seem to have been connected with the Lollards, though the leaders of the tumult spoke against the priesthood.

In 1431, we find the ruling ecclesiasties loudly calling for unity, which, in their acceptation of the term, meant blind submission, in spiritual as well as temporal matters; but the measures resorted to for this purpose only caused the discontent to be more deeply felt. Glou

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cester, with all his evil passions, had a love for literature, which expanded his mind, and animated him against the mental tyranny of the church of Rome. This gave him weight and influence with the literary characters of the day, and his personal hatred to Beaufort made him ready to promote measures in opposition to the ecclesiastics, and favourable to the popular feelings. Therefore he openly met the above-mentioned call for unity," by urging that it would be best attained if the nobles and prelates would be more unanimous with the commons. The efforts of Gloucester succeeded so far, that, in 1433, the Duke of Bedford was requested by the parliament to stay in England, and direct the public affairs. He consented; and the advantages of the war in France formed a subject for discussion. The national pride was averse to such a peace as could then be obtained from France: but the idea of conquering that country was evidently a mere illusion. Some of the nobles and leading characters had been enriched by their plunder and their pay, but the nation at large was impoverished by having furnished the supplies necessary for carrying on the warfare. Another cause of trouble now pressed upon the government, namely, pecuniary difficulties. The crown was considerably indebted, and the deficiency increased every year, as the annual income was less than the expenditure. This has ever been productive of troubles in a country, and it was one cause of the civil dissensions which followed; though as yet it only led to the weakening of the English power in France. The indolence of the French king had deferred the expulsion of the invaders, but the occurrences of 1435 hastened that event. Negotiations for peace were then broken off; the Duke of Burgundy made peace with Charles, and joined the French; the Duke of Bedford died, worn out by fatigue and disappointment; and in the following year the French king regained Paris.

The Duke of York was appointed general in France, and with Talbot was enabled to make a more vigorous opposition to the progress of the French power. Negotiations for peace were renewed in 1439, but again failed, from the prospect which the French then had of driving the in

vaders from their land.

No events of interest are recorded as occurring in England during the later years of the king's minority, except

the intrigues and struggles of party. It is not easy clearly to ascertain the particulars; but it is evident that Cardinal Beaufort and his partizans used their utmost endeavours to retain supreme authority. The king was not suffered to take any part in public affairs; and the severe bondage in which his mind was held by the ecclesiastics, and by his governor, the Earl of Warwick, must have increased, if it did not originate that incapacity which he afterwards displayed. The coercion exercised over him by his stern tutor enfeebled his mind, and rendered it easy for his priestly ministers to keep him in a state of ignorance and incapacity. The spirit of superstition was used to influence him to a baneful extent. Many proofs are recorded by monkish historians, of the extent to which superstitious practices were then carried. In one year, 1434, more than 3000 pilgrims went by sea to Spain, incurring the dangers of the voyage and journey, to visit a shrine dedicated to Saint James.

While the public revenue became more and more disordered, the cardinal amassed vast riches, and thus added to his influence. When attending a council at Basle, he obtained permission to carry £20,000 in money with him. Gloucester now urged that the ecclesiastical statesmen should be put from the royal councils, and again pleaded the cause of the oppressed commons; he was the most popular character of the day, and known as "the good Duke Humphrey."

The clergy had recourse to the means most within their power to lower the influence of their opponent. In 1443, charges of witchcraft and magic were brought against the Duchess of Gloucester. The superstitious ignorance of the people at that period made them credulous on these points, and the cognizance of them rested with the church. The duchess was found guilty, disgraced by a public penance which required her to walk barefooted in a white sheet, carrying a taper through the streets of London. Afterwards she was banished to the Isle of Man, while several persons charged with being her accomplices, were put to death. It is probable that she had taken a part in some ridiculous scenes of incantation, under the belief that she should thereby obtain supernatural support to the power of her husband, and she was probably the dupe of some who thought to profit by her credulity. The council gravely investigated charges which would now only be

laughed at; but there is good reason to believe that " lollardy" was one of the matters which rendered her obnoxious to the church. Ten years before, similar charges had been made against some who were now involved with the duchess. Her chaplain, who was first included in the accusation, was the only one pardoned.

Cardinal Beaufort hesitated not to resort to the most unjustifiable measures to maintain his power. His supporters interfered with the elections of the commons, and he resolved upon two other plans, in which his factious partizans were successful; but while they digged a pit for others, they fell into it themselves. One measure was, to obtain peace with France upon any terms; and the other, to unite the king to a princess to be selected by the ruling prelate. In 1442, the daughter of the Earl of Armagnac had been thought a proper person to be the queen of England. Gloucester recommended this alliance, especially as it was one by which Gascony and Auvergne would be secured to England; but the Earl of Suffolk, one of his principal supporters, counteracted this plan, and selected Margaret of Anjou, a pleasing, high-spirited young female, whose father possessed the empty appellation of King of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem, but had no real power or influence in any of those states. This union could give no advantage to the English monarch; on the contrary, it was agreed that a considerable portion of his remaining territories in France should be ceded to the king of that country, who was related to the princess, before Charles would allow the marriage to be completed. Suffolk was the most active promoter of this union, and for a time the cardinal and his compeers rendered it popular in England; but thinking men already saw it was a measure hurtful to the kingdom, and likely to be ruinous to those who promoted it.

After the completion of this plan, in May, 1444, strengthened by the accession of the new queen, Suffolk, Beaufort, and their associates, resolved upon the destruction of Gloucester. Early in 1447, a parliament was summoned to meet at Bury, where the duke and his attendants were arrested and imprisoned upon a charge of high treason. On the 23rd of February, before any trial or examination had taken place, Duke Humphrey was found dead in his bed.

The report was, that he had died of apoplexy; but the circumstances were such as to make it generally believed that he had been murdered, as the only means by which his political rivals could hope to maintain their ill-gotten power and influence. We have noticed his popularity; and it is evident that he strongly opposed the unscriptural usurpations of the church of Rome, but probably from political views, rather than from any thorough conviction of the soul-destroying nature of the errors of popery. It is clear, however, that he did not believe in the false miracles of his church; and his detecting an impostor who pretended to have received sight at the shrine of St. Alban, increased the enmity of the ecclesiastics. This man pretended to have been blind from his birth, yet when brought before the duke, immediately after the pretended miracle, he named, without hesitation, the various colours of the cloaks worn by the duke and his attendants, when desired to do so. Still he pretended to be lame, but when the duke sent for a scourge, he recovered his feet, and ran away!

Beaufort did not long survive the nephew whom he so bitterly opposed, and whom he probably murdered. In six weeks from that time he was laid on his death bed. Then he found all his wealth and power of no avail. Baker, his chaplain, reports him to have said, " Why should I die, having so much riches? If the whole realm would save my life, I am able, either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it. Fie! will not death be hindered? Will money do nothing? When my nephew of Bedford died, I thought myself half up the wheel: but when I saw mine other nephew of Gloucester deceased, then I thought myself able to be equal to kings; and so thought to increase my treasure, in hope to have worn a triple crown. But I see now the world faileth me; and so I am deceived. I pray you all to pray for me." In this wretched state he sought to purchase heaven with some portion of the wealth he could no longer retain, by making considerable bequests in charity, and for ecclesiastical purposes, and to quiet his conscience, by having the offices and mass of the church of Rome chaunted over his poor dying body; but historians agree in representing that conscience would not thus be silenced. Other nobles suspected of participating in the guilt of the murder of Gloucester