inferred from a book which he wrote in defence of popery, against Martin
Luther, the celebrated Saxon reformer; for which the pope had bestowed
on him the title of ‘Defender of the Faith,’ still retained by our
monarchs. During this period many persons suffered persecution; and
though it is far from my intention to enter into an account of many of
the ‘noble army of martyrs,’ yet, to render you thankful for the mercies
_you_ enjoy in this privileged land, I will just mention, that, in 1519,
six men and a woman were _burnt_ at Coventry, for teaching the Lord’s
prayer, the creed, and the ten commandments, in the _vulgar tongue_.
“On the 14th of November, 1532, Henry was secretly united to Ann Boleyn.
On the second of May, 1534, the sentence of divorce was formally
pronounced by Cranmer, between the king and Catherine of Arragon; and,
on the twenty-eighth of the same month, his marriage with Ann Boleyn
(who afterwards became the mother of our celebrated queen Elizabeth) was
publicly confirmed. The pope’s excommunication followed this step
immediately; and Henry was so enraged, that he resolved to break
entirely with the see of Rome, and to abolish the papal authority for
ever.
“The parliament confirmed his proceedings, and thus were our forefathers
delivered from the tyranny of Rome.
“But, strange as it may appear to you, persecution still raged, and many
sufferers might be named, who, about this period, underwent martyrdom;
for Henry, though he had indignantly renounced the temporal authority of
the pope, was still zealously devoted, in all spiritual matters, to the
Romish forms. Neither party, consequently, escaped his wrath. The
reformers, who, by their preaching and writings, attacked the doctrinal
errors, and exposed the superstitious and burdensome ceremonies of
papacy, were equally liable to punishment with the Romish priests and
laymen, who denied his supremacy. Whilst the lesser abbeys, to the
number of three hundred and seventy-six, were suppressed, and, not long
after, the greater ones shared the same fate; yet, with an inconsistency
peculiar to Henry’s character, he caused several eminent protestants,
among whom was the excellent lady Ann Askew, to be burnt to death in
Smithfield.
“One great act was achieved in this reign—the translation of the Bible
into English; and, in the month of September, 1538, Thomas Cromwell,
lord privy-seal, viceregent to the king’s highness, sent forth
instruction to all bishops and curates throughout the realm; charging
them to see, that in every parish-church, the Bible of the largest
volume printed in English, should be placed for all men to read in: and
a book of register was also provided and kept in every parish-church,
wherein was to be written every wedding, christening, and burying,
within the same parish for ever. Crosses and images in many places were
taken down: one image in particular is mentioned, as exposed at St.
Paul’s cross, by the bishop of Rochester, and afterwards broken and
plucked in pieces. This piece of machinery seems to have been curiously
contrived, so as to move the eyes and lips.
“But the death of Henry put an end to the dangerous versatility of his
opinions; and the short reign of Edward the Sixth, who succeeded his
father when but nine years of age, was marked by signal benefits to the
protestant cause. Not only were sundry injunctions issued for the
removing of images out of all churches, and measures taken for the
suppression of idolatry and superstition within his realms and
dominions, but the Homilies (which are still in use in the church) were
composed by many of the most pious and learned men of the age, and
directed to be read generally for the edification of the lower
classes:—the Lord’s supper was ordered to be administered to the
laity:—the Catechism was compiled for the use of children, by
Cranmer:—the Liturgy was established by law; and the Articles were drawn
up, explanatory of the doctrines of the Church of England, and which, in
the main, appear, under the name of the thirty-nine articles, in the
Prayer-book.
“The apparel of the clergy, after the reformation, underwent a change,
and was restricted to sable garments. Previous to this, the graduates
went either in a variety of colours, or in garments of light hue, as
yellow, red, green, &c. with their shoes piked, their hair crisped,
their girdles armed with silver; their shoes, spurs, bridles, &c.
buckled with light metal; their apparel, for the most part, of silk and
richly furred; their caps laced and buttoned with gold: so that a priest
of those days would not now be recognized as belonging to the order.
“But the hopes of the Reformers were clouded by the premature death of
the young king, who expired at Greenwich, the sixth of July, 1553.
“He possessed undoubted piety; and his talents appear to have been very
great. It is related of him, that he knew not only the name and style of
living of his great officers and judges, but in what estimation their
religion and conversation were held. He had a singular respect for
justice; and was particularly assiduous in the dispatch of business.
Charitable and humane in an extraordinary degree, this exemplary prince
just “sparkled” for a time, then was “exhaled,” and “went,” undoubtedly,
“to Heaven.”
“The gloomy era which followed, on Mary’s accession to the throne, is
marked, in the memory of every Englishman, with sentiments of horror and
detestation. The queen, a zealous catholic, was anxious to restore the
popish forms of worship; and a statute was passed, abolishing all the
laws relative to religion, which had been enacted in Edward’s reign.
“Mass was again celebrated, images and crosses erected, and punishments
followed any affront to the priests: reconciliation with the pope
followed.
“Married clergy were dispossessed of their preferments; and reading the
sacred volume, in the vulgar tongue, not only forbidden, under pain of
death; but, in the year 1557, the papists actually burnt all the English
Bibles they could seize.
“Persecution raged with accumulated violence; and amongst the excellent
men who preferred a good conscience to life itself, I shall only
enumerate Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, and Hooper.
“Others, equally valiant for truth, perished also in the flames; but
their numbers were too great to allow of my enumerating them. In one
year alone, eighty-five persons were burnt for their religious opinions;
and the joy and holy triumph, with which many of them expired, under the
excruciating torment of the flames, served to confirm the more wavering,
and strengthen the surrounding crowd.
“But, in mercy to the nation, Divine Providence terminated this cruel
reign, by the death of the queen, on the 19th of November, 1558; and
Elizabeth’s accession was ushered in with every demonstration of joy.
“Nor did the conduct of this wonderful woman disappoint the expectations
raised on her behalf; and her long and prosperous reign was marked by
proceedings of wisdom. By an act of oblivion, she quieted the fears of
those who had reason to dread her power, released all those confined for
conscience sake, and consulted on the best plan for bringing about, and
settling the reformed religion. As soon as the parliament met, several
bills were passed in favour of the protestant cause.
“The English liturgy was restored; and, in short, all the laws
respecting religion, which were made in the reign of king Edward, were
revised, and those of queen Mary repealed.
“All offensive popish observances were abolished, and the national
worship was modelled to nearly the present standard.
“Thus was the Reformation finally settled, under the wise policy and
energetic measures of queen Elizabeth; to whom, under God, the
protestants are indebted for their deliverance from superstition and
tyranny.”
“Excuse me, Sir,” said Mrs. Spencer, when Mr. Wilmot had finished his
narration; “but you spoke of the Lollards as a persecuted sect, and I
fancy the girls are ignorant from whence the title was derived. Perhaps
you will kindly give them this information, and add a few more
particulars of the life of John Wickliffe.”
“The Lollards,” replied Mr. Wilmot, “were so called from Raynard
Lollard, who lived in the thirteenth century. He was at first a
Franciscan monk, and afterwards a zealous preacher and martyr. After his
death, all the reputed heretics were indiscriminately called Lollards,
by their sanguinary persecutors. These sects were dreadfully oppressed
in France and Flanders; but in England they were, for a time, protected
by the powerful influence of the celebrated John Gaunt, duke of
Lancaster, and many other noblemen, who either secretly or openly
espoused their cause, in defiance of all the machinations of the
Catholic clergy.
“The rise of this sect in England, under the celebrated John Wickliffe
and his followers, may justly be considered as the earliest dawn of the
Reformation. There were, indeed, some solitary individuals who had
before protested against the growing corruptions of the Romish church;
and these, as being reformers at heart, and as having made some
honourable, though ineffectual attempts at reformation, deserve to be
remembered with honour. The first of these was Robert Groteste, or
Great-head, bishop of Lincoln, who is supposed to have been born about
A.D. 1175, and flourished in the reign of Henry the Third. He was a man
of great learning, fervent piety, and undaunted courage. As soon as he
was called to the episcopal chair he began to reform abuses, especially
in the religious houses belonging to his diocese. This great and good
man both saw and lamented the corrupt state of the church to which he
belonged, and turned all his episcopal and personal influence to purify
it from these flagrant corruptions. Conscious that Rome was the
fountain-head of all, he aimed at cleansing the spring, that the streams
issuing from it might be pure also. When any bulls were received from
thence, containing instructions contrary to the gospel, and injurious to
morality and religion, he tore them in pieces with indignation. Nor was
he content with refusing to comply with these instructions; but he wrote
to the pope, when in the plenitude of his power, letters of sharp
reproof and faithful admonition. When these philippics were received at
Rome, the pontiff threatened vengeance against his faithful monitor;
which he was only deterred from executing, by the earnest persuasions of
his cardinals, and conviction of the public odium he should incur, by
sacrificing a man of such exemplary piety and distinguished learning. It
is no small honour to this excellent prelate, that he resisted,
successfully, the papal power, at a period in which that power seemed to
be irresistible, and when the mightiest sovereigns were compelled to
crouch before the Roman pontiff.
“The next individual who lifted up a standard against the corruptions of
popery, during that period, was Richard Knapwell, a Dominican friar, who
maintained, in the year 1286, several propositions which were deemed
heretical by the prelates of that age, and most furiously controverted
by archbishop Peckham. The greater part of these propositions were
unintelligible jargon, relative to the sacrifice of the mass; but the
last, which was probably the most obnoxious of the whole, contained a
sound Protestant maxim: namely, ‘That, in articles of faith, a man is
not bound to set on the authority of the pope, or of any priest or
doctor; but that the holy Scriptures, and right reason, are the only
foundations of our assent.’ These doctrines were denounced, but it is
not known what became of the author of them. Of Thomas Bradwardine,
archbishop of Canterbury, I have already told you. But the individual
who aimed the most effectual blow at the mighty fabric of papal
superstition, was the celebrated John Wickliffe. This primitive reformer
delivered lectures on divinity, in Merton College, Oxford. His learning
acquired him great reputation; but he soon became disgusted with the
vices, ignorance, and rapacity of the clergy, and preached against them
with great zeal. His boldness attracted the attention of king Edward the
Third, from whom he received several benefices, and by whom he was sent
on several embassies to the court of Rome. Here he saw so much to
confirm his former opinions, that, on his return, he inveighed, with
increased vehemence, against the errors of popery. He soon proceeded so
far as to deny the pope’s supremacy, and even to denounce him as
antichrist. This effrontery, in an humble ecclesiastic, soon armed
against him all the dignitaries, of the church which he had presumed to
assail; and subjected him to the thundering anathemas of the pontiff,
who commanded him to be apprehended and condemned for his heretical
discourses.
“The rector of Lutterworth would soon have been the prey of his mighty
adversaries, had not the duke of Lancaster, and lord Henry Percy, then
marshal of England, espoused his cause, and afforded him protection.
Whether their conduct proceeded from political or religious motives, is
a matter of uncertainty; but, whatever might be the inducement, it had
the happiest effect; for it not only enabled Wickliffe to pursue his
Herculean task, but emboldened many, both of the clergy and laity, to
embrace his tenets.
“In a few years the Wickliffites, or Lollards, became exceedingly
numerous, notwithstanding the attempts, made by argument and force, to
suppress them. The doctrines taught by this reformer were similar to
those of the latter reformers, but far less purified from error. They
were, however, sufficient to alarm the Roman hierarchy, and make them
earnestly desirous of repressing them by force, since it was vain to use
arguments.
“The most opprobrious epithets were applied to this most faithful and
diligent labourer, who continued, till death, to discharge, with
fidelity and zeal, the duties connected with his official station.
“His great work of translating the Holy Scriptures was completed a
little before his decease, which took place in the year 1384. This
latter event was hailed with delight by his enemies, who fondly imagined
that it would lead to the overthrow of his heresy. But they found that
it had taken too deep root to be exterminated; and though, during the
disturbed years of Richard’s reign, attempts were made to destroy the
writings of Wickliffe, and his followers, and to remove all who were
suspected of Lollard sentiments, from their benefices, they continued to
flourish, and were finally triumphant, as I have before related to you.”
“I am sure Mary Ann and Susan are much obliged to you for the
information you have given them,” said Mrs. Spencer; “and I hope they
will prove their sense of the obligation, by endeavouring to remember
what you have told them.”
The little girls looked assent to their mamma’s observation; and Mary
Ann enquired if Mr. Wilmot would object to giving some little account of
the Crusades.
“So far from objecting, my dear,” answered her kind cousin, “it gives me
pleasure to hear you make enquiries, since it proves that you are
interested in my anecdotes.
“The object of the Crusades was to drive the infidels out of the
possession of the Holy Land; and the zeal of a fanatical monk, towards
the end of the eleventh century, gave rise to this wild undertaking.
Peter the Hermit (for so he was named) ran from province to province,
with a cross in his hand, exciting kings and people to this holy war, as
it was called. His enthusiasm spread with astonishing rapidity: not only
princes, and nobles, and warriors; but shepherds and mechanics, women
and children, left their peaceful occupations, and hastened to enlist
themselves under the banner of their deluded leader. It is asserted by
contemporary authors, that six millions of persons, at different times,
assumed the badge of the cross. These crosses were worn on their
clothes, and their colours distinguished the different nations. The
English wore them white, the French red, the Flemish green, the Germans
black, and the Italians yellow.
“In the second Crusade a considerable troop of women rode amongst the
Germans: they were arrayed with the spear and shield. But the historian
satirically remarks, that some love of usual delights had mingled itself
with the desire of great exploits; for they were remarkable for the
splendour of their dress, and the bold leader was called the
golden-footed dame.
“These ladies were, however, of an age to judge for themselves; and
however we may smile at their folly, our pity is not excited, as it is
for the children of France and Germany, who, seduced by the preaching of
fanatics, about the year 1213, thought themselves authorized by Heaven,
to attempt the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre; and ran about the country,
crying, ‘Lord Jesus Christ restore the cross to us.’ Boys and girls
stole from their homes: no bolts, no bars, no fear of fathers, or love
of mothers, could hold them back; and the number of youthful converts
was thirty thousand. They were accompanied by some fanatical persons,
some of whom were taken and hanged at Cologne. The children passed
through France, crossed the Alps; and those who survived hunger and
thirst, presented themselves at the gates of the sea-ports of Italy and
the south of France. Many were driven back to their homes; but seven
large ships, full of them, went from Marseilles. Two of the vessels were
wrecked on the isle of St. Peter; the rest of the ships went to Bugia
and Alexandria, and the master sold the children to slavery. These
dreadful facts are mentioned by four contemporary writers.
“In the third crusade, Richard the First, surnamed Cœur de Lion, as I
before told you, signalized himself eminently. The very word Richard was
dreaded in Syria, so great was the terror he had spread. Syrian mothers
used to frighten their children, by telling them that king Richard was
coming; and horses, according to vulgar tradition, dreaded the
lion-hearted monarch; for, if a courser started, the rider would
exclaim, ‘What! do you think king Richard is in the bush?’ In the year
1193, died the sultan Saladin, the Saracen chief; and, as his character
was a remarkable one, I shall give you a brief sketch of it. He was in
the fifty-seventh year of his age when he expired. During twenty-two
years he had reigned over Egypt, and for nineteen years was absolute
master of Syria. No Asiatic monarch has filled so large a space, in the
annals of Europe, as the antagonist of Cœur de Lion. He was a compound
of the dignity and the baseness, the greatness and the littleness of
man. As the Moslem hero of the third holy war, he proved himself a
valiant soldier and a skilful general. He hated the Christian cause; for
he was a zealous Mussulman, and his principles authorized him to make
war upon the enemies of the prophet; but human sympathy mollified the
rigour of his enthusiasm, and, when his foes were suppliant, he often
forgot the sternness of Islamism.
“He was fond of religious exercises and studies; but his mind was so
much above the age in which he lived, that he never consulted
soothsayers or astrologers.
“He had gained the throne by blood, artifice, and treachery; but, though
ambitious, he was not tyrannical: he was mild in his government, and the
friend and dispenser of justice. Eager for the possession, but
indifferent to the display of power, he was simple in his manners, and
unostentatious in deportment. He attempted the arts of conciliation and
tuition, to change the religious sentiments of the Egyptian Fatemites;
but the intolerant spirit of his religion would sometimes appear; the
politician was lost in the zealot; and he inflicted punishment on those
who presumed to question any of the dogmas of a Mussulman’s creed.
“But I must refer you,” said Mr. Wilmot, “to Mills’s History of the
Crusades, for further particulars of this eventful period: in the
meanwhile, it is sufficient for me to say, that, before the expiration
of the thirteenth century, the whole band of adventurers were driven
from their Asiatic possessions. There were, in all, nine Crusades; in
which, according to Voltaire, two millions of human beings perished.”
“It was, indeed,” remarked Mrs. Spencer, “a dreadful waste and effusion
of human blood. One beneficial consequence arose, however, from these
extravagant excursions, which was neither expected nor intended.
“It was impossible for men to travel through so many lands as the
Crusaders did, without imparting some of the improvement or knowledge
they had gained, to their respective countries, on their return. The
spirit of commerce was by this means fostered and spread, the progress
of navigation advanced, and useful information was circulated.”
“Yes,” answered Mr. Wilmot; “and evil was thus wisely overruled for
good. But,” added he, “I recollect that I have omitted to give my little
cousins any account of the Reformation in Scotland; which, as it
commenced in the reign of Edward the Sixth, and was concluded in that of
Elizabeth, under the intrepid, and, it must be confessed, austere John
Knox, could not, with propriety, be introduced before; especially, as it
was not so much my design to interweave the history of individuals, in
the sketch I have given, as _to mark the progress of religion, from the
first century to the age of Elizabeth_.
“When popery was the established religion in Scotland, this eminent man,
(who had been one of the chaplains of king Edward the Sixth,) narrowly
escaped with his life, from cardinal Beaton, the archbishop of Glasgow,
and bishop Hamilton; and he was afterwards cited before bishop Tunstall,
for preaching against the mass; and was obliged to leave England, by the
persecution of Protestants, which arose on queen Mary’s accession to the
throne. Returning, however, to Scotland, in 1559, just as a public
prosecution was carrying on against the Protestants, who were about to
be tried at Stirling, (through the treachery of the queen regent, who
had promised them protection,) he did not hesitate to join their ranks,
and share their dangers. By the most bold and intrepid conduct, he
exposed the abuses of popery, and animated the nation against it, by
every means in his power; in which he spared no labour, and dreaded no
danger.
“He corresponded with Cecil, the able and faithful minister of queen
Elizabeth; and by that means, was chiefly instrumental in establishing
those negociations between ‘the congregation’ and the English, which
terminated in the march of an English army into Scotland, under the
orders of queen Elizabeth, to aid the Protestants, and to assist them
against the persecutions of the queen regent.
“This army being joined by almost all the principal men of Scotland,
proceeded with such vigour and success, that they obliged the French
forces, who had been the principal support of the queen regent’s
tyranny, to evacuate the kingdom, and thus restored the parliament to
its former independence. Of that body a great majority had embraced the
Protestant religion; and, encouraged by the ardour and number of their
friends, they improved every opportunity which occurred, of overthrowing
the whole fabric of popery. They sanctioned the whole confession of
faith, submitted to them by Knox and the other reformed ministers. They
abolished the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts, and transferred
the causes to the cognizance of the civil court; and they prohibited the
exercise of religious worship, according to the rites of the Romish
church.
“On the death of the queen regent, Mary, queen of Scots, arrived from
France, and immediately established the popish service, in her own
chapel, which, by her protection and countenance, was much frequented.
Knox opposed this, as he did the other evidences, given by Mary, of her
attachment to the Romish cause.