secretary, lord Cromwell, suggested to him the expediency of a matrimonial alliance with Ann, the sister of the duke of Cleves, who was one of the princes of the protestant league in Germany. Henry, having received a flattering report of her beauty, acceded to the proposal, and a treaty of marriage was speedily concluded. But this lady, unhappily, was found not to possess sufficient personal charms to fascinate this voluptuous monarch. The first interview disgusted him, and he carried his resentment so far as not only to resolve on an immediate separation from his new queen, but also on the sacrifice of the faithful minister who had recommended her to his choice.

A short time before these inauspicious nuptials took place, Cromwell had been elevated to the highest dignity, by the favour of his sovereign. He had been introduced into the house of lords by the title of earl of Essex, and took the precedence of all the other peers, both spiritual and temporal. This sudden elevation of a person of obscure origin, added to the zeal he had shewn for the reformation of religion, armed against him the jealousy and resentments of the hereditary peers, and more especially of those who belonged to the catholic party. The king was not ignorant of the malice of his enemies, and, as he was no longer in favour, determined to sacrifice him to their resentments. Abandoned by a master whom he had faithfully served with unwearied zeal and assiduity, Cromwell was now suddenly accused at the councilboard of high treason, by the duke of Norfolk, who was the leader of the popish faction, and whose beautiful but profligate niece, Catharine Howard, had entangled the king's affections.

The fallen statesman was hurried to the Tower, none daring to plead his cause, but his excellent colleague the archbishop of Canterbury. Cranmer wrote to the king on his behalf, and ventured to affirm, that "he was such a servant in wisdom, diligence, faithfulness, and experience, as no other prince had ever possessed." Cromwell, too, degraded himself so far as in the most suppliant terms to implore the king's merey, though he was conscious of no offence against the state. But all was unavailing. The stern monarch with relentless severity and barbarous injustice, signed the

warrant for his execution, which took place on the 28th of July, 1540. Thus fell a minister who was unquestionably one of the greatest statesmen of the age in which he lived, and who was raised up to be the instrument of laying the foundation of that glorious Reformation, the fruits of which it is our happiness to enjoy in an abundant

measure.

Burnet's History of the Reformation. Herbert's History of Henry VIII. Strype's Memorials. Stowe. Hall. Fox, &c.

REFLECTIONS.

It is scarcely possible to review the preceding facts, without deriving from them additional conviction of the superintending providence of the Most High, who deigns sometimes to employ the vilest of mankind as instruments of effecting his purposes of wisdom and grace. Circumstances and events which appear to us contingent, are manifestly parts of a plan "well ordered in all things and sure." Nothing could be more unjust and tyrannical than the conduct of Henry to his first queen, Catharine of Arragon; and yet this was rendered subservient to the emancipation of England from the papal yoke. Nothing could seem more accidental than the interview between Cranmer and Henry's courtiers at Waltham, or the delay of the courier, who was charged with the definitive treaty of reconciliation between Rome and England; yet who can doubt that both of these incidents took place by the special direction of the "King of kings and Lord of lords ?" The men of this world may ascribe these things to the caprices of fortune, or blind inevitable chance; but the man of piety will distinctly recognise and devoutly acknowledge the hand of an Omnipotent Being, who works all things according to the sovereign purpose of his own will, and effectuates his deep designs by means the most improbable, and apparently contingent. From such facts we should learn "in all our ways to acknowledge God,"-to confide in his care, to rely upon his providence,-to seek his direc

tion, and humbly to follow the guidance of his omniscient eye.

However important a step toward the reformation of religion, the separation of the English church from that of Rome must be acknowledged to have been, little comparatively was gained by the transfer of the supremacy from one temporal head to another. The "man of sin" still continued to work, though under a different name; the errors of papal superstition were still propagated by authority; spiritual tyranny was still exercised over the consciences of men; the sole authority of Christ in his church was still denied, and a rival permitted to occupy his throne. How far this invasion of the rights of conscience was sanctioned by the excellent Cranmer and his coadjutors in the work of ecclesiastical reform, it is not easy to determine. Perhaps they yielded to necessity, and lamented in secret the evils they were unable to control; or, (which is more probable,) they were perhaps unable to discern, through the twilight which surrounded them, the genuine features of that gospel, to which they were most cordially attached, and the spiritual nature of that kingdom which they earnestly desired to establish.

What a mystery of iniquity was developed, when the monasteries-those gloomy recesses of superstition, which had long overshadowed the land-were thrown open! Then, in a limited sense, the works of darkness were revealed, and the veil of hypocrisy was rent asunder. But how much more fearful will be the developement of that great and terrible day of the Lord, in which the secrets of all hearts will be made manifest; when the "hidden things of darkness shall be brought to light," and when the hypocrites in Zion will be unmasked before an assembled world?"But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth?"

Unjust as was the sentence, which doomed such conscientious adherents to the church of Rome as Fisher and More to an ignominious death, we cannot but perceive, in their fall, the judgment of God on persecutors. Nor can we fail to remark the different spirit which characterized these political victims in their last moments, from that which animated the christian martyrs of that age.

The undaunted courage, the playful levity, the unseasonable wit of Sir Thomas More upon the scaffold, might indeed have accorded with the principles of a stoical philosopher, but they will bare no comparison with the calm fortitude, the meek submission, and the holy triumphs of those who died for the testimony of Jesus. In some few instances, philosophy may have triumphed over the fury of the oppressor, but Christianity alone can effectually extract the sting of death, and render its possessors "more than conquerors through him that hath loved them."

It is easy to conceive that the hopes of the protestants were greatly depressed, when they saw first one and then another of their illustrious champions cut off by a capricious tyrant. But how short-sighted is man! how groundless are frequently his most distressing apprehensions! "Is not God able even from these stones to raise up children to Abraham?" Instruments who may appear to us necessary to the accomplishment of a desired object, are not unfrequently removed, that we may learn to cease from man, and put our trust in God only,-to teach us, that the Most High can work by few as well as by many, -by the weakest and most despised, no less than by the mightiest and most honoured agents. While we mourn over our fallen Cromwells, let us not be unmindful of our surviving Cranmers; and with our tears of regret for the loss of those, who are taken away in the midst of their usefulness, let us mingle our unfeigned thanksgivings for the preservation of those, who still continue to stand as pillars in the temple of the living God.

ESSAY V.

The Reign of HENRY VIII. concluded.

A. D. 1540-1547.

THE fall of Cromwell afforded a temporary triumph to the catholic party. They now anticipated with confidence a speedy reconciliation between the churches of Rome and England,-the abandonment of those measures of reform which had been chiefly effected by the influence of the late minister, and the vigorous persecution of all descriptions of heretics. These expectations were heightened by the circumstance of the king's attachment to Catharine Howard, the fair but profligate niece of the duke of Norfolk, who was the acknowledged leader of that faction. Soon after Cromwell's death, Henry obtained from his obsequious parliament, and the no less venal convocation of his clergy, a sentence of divorce from Ann of Cleves, his fourth queen, on pretexts the most trifling and unfounded. This prepared the way for a fifth marriage, with which the king was so much delighted, that he instructed his almoner to draw up a form of thanksgiving to God for having directed his choice to so suitable and excellent a companion.

In the mean time, these sacrifices of praise were mingled with the blood of many faithful martyrs, some of whom were executed on political grounds, but the far greater part on account of their Lutheran tenets. The duke of Norfolk, and Gardiner, the sanguinary bishop of Winchester, now governed the king's councils, and under the sanction of their authority, the law of "Six Articles," commonly known by the name of the bloody statute, was executed with the utmost rigour. The most distinguished political victim, who fell at this period, was the aged countess of Salisbury, mother of cardinal Pole, and lineal descendant of Edward III., who having been suspected of