Henry VIII.

k, genial manners, his sympathy with the "new learning," won all classes. Erasmus in his hopes of purifying the Church, and Sir

with the Princess Katharine, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, had been arranged for the youn

tage, across the Channel. The old dream of French conquest returned. Francis I. and Charles V. of Germany had commenced their struggle for supremacy in Europe. Henry's ambition was foste

l Chair was dexterously mingled with the royal game. The game was dazzling and absorbing, but it was unexpectedly interrupted; and the

otest against the selling of papal indulgences, and the pent-up hopes, griefs

: Reforma

rd-rate power to the front rank among nations; so it was with great satisfaction that Catholic Eur

riage with Ann

brother's widow, Katharine. He confided his scruples to Wolsey, who promised to use his efforts with the Pope to secure a divorce from Katharine. But this

and sent his Minister into disgrace for not serving him more effectually. "There was the weight which pulled me down," said

ded a trembling Parliament to pass an act sustaining his marriage with Anne. Another permitting him to name his successor, and then another-makin

. Henry a Protestant. An

side by side with the Protestant who denied transubstantiation. The Protestantism of this great convert was political, not religious; he despised the doctrines of Lutheranism, and it was dangerous to believe to

ose and bowed humbly to his vacant throne at mention of his name! A member for whom he had sent knelt trembling one day before him. "Get my bill passed to- morrow, my little man," said the King, "

en for destruction, as a woodman does tall trees, the highest and proudest names in the Kingdom being set down in his little notebook under the head of either "Heresy" or "Treason.

Anne of Cleves; which proved so distasteful to Henry that he speedily divorced her, and in resentment at Cromwell's having entrapped him, by a flattering portrait drawn by Holbein, the Minister came u

ward's Death 1541. Deat

and would undoubtedly at last have gone to the block. But Henry, who at fifty-six was infirm and wrecke

d England firmly in the line of the world's highest progress; and st

1547-1555. Lady Jan

is gentle girl of seventeen, sensitive and thoughtful, a devout reformer, who read Greek and Hebrew and wrote Latin poetry, is a pathetic figure in history, where we see her, the unwilling wearer

ss out of his own family, rather than into Catholic dominion again. Hence his naming of J

Catholic sentiment. Lady Jane Grey was hurried t

1553-1558. Cal

holic Philip, whose love she craved and could not win. Disappointed in his aim to reign jointly with her, as he had hoped, he withdrew to Spain. Unlovely and unloved, she is almost an object of pity, as with dungeon, rack and fagot she strives to restore the Religion she loves, and to wi