fanciful meanings of their own. But now Colet, reading it first in its own original Greek, instead of in the Latin translation, taught and explained it simply and naturally in lectures and in sermons, especially the Gospels, and the Epistles of St. Paul.

22. Erasmus published a new and corrected edition of the New Testament, which was printed in thousands and spread all over Europe. He said he should wish every one, "even the weakest woman, to read the gospel. I wish they should be translated into all languages, so that they might be read and understood not only by Scots and Irishmen, but even by Turks and Saracens." At that time the Scotch and Irish were far behind the English in learning and civilization, and we know what was thought of Turks and Saracens. "I long," he goes on, "that the husbandman should sing portions of them to himself as he follows the plough, that the weaver should hum them to the tune of his shuttle, that the traveller should beguile with their stories the tedium of his journey."

23. Colet, who after living a long time at Oxford was made Dean of St. Paul's, and who was a rich man, spent nearly all his money in founding a school where boys should be taught good Latin and Greek, and above all true religion and the love of Christ. It was he who chose his trustees among "the married citizens of good report;" and St. Paul's School, the one which he founded, is still one of our most famous public schools. Other good and rich men followed his example, and founded grammar schools in all parts of England, many of which are still doing their good work.

24. These men did not wish for a separation; they rather hoped that the whole Christian Church might remain united, by all of it, up to the highest clergy and the Popes, peacefully but thoroughly reforming and purifying itself. Their hope was not realized, beautiful as it was. The Popes and the high authorities would not reform; no gentle means would avail. A great deal of roughness and violence, a great many meaner and more worldly motives, had to come in and take part. And after all the Christian world was torn asunder, and only a portion of it accepted the Reformation. Still even the countries which continued attached to the Papal Church altered in some ways, and the religion of educated people in those countries now is very different from the superstition and ignorant credulity of the middle ages. Nor are the clergy of that Church any longer worldly and avaricious, like those we have been hearing of.

25. Happily for herself, England was one of the countries

which heartily embraced the Protestant Reformation, but this was hardly begun as yet. In the midst of the work 1509. of the Oxford Reformers Henry VII. died, and was Henry VIII. succeeded by his son Henry VIII., who was now about eighteen years old. In his reign the work of the Reformation went on at a quicker pace, though not in such a lofty spirit. 26. The new Henry was a great contrast to his father, who had latterly grown tyrannical, and still more miserly than of old. He was gay, handsome, and clever, and at once became very popular. He was well-educated, fond of books and of clever men, fond of splendour and magnificence, fond of fame and glory, and fondest of all, like his father and all his family, of his own will. Just at first that did not seem to matter much, and a little wilfulness is easily forgiven to a fine young prince. One of the first things he did was to punish with death his father's instruments of tyranny, Empson and Dudley, which of course gave great satisfaction to the people. He soon wished to distinguish himself in war, and mixed himself up in foreign affairs for no particular reason apparently, except in hopes of winning fame. He went to France and took a few towns, and won a battle in which the French ran away so fast that it got the name of the "Battle of the Spurs."

1513.

sermon on

27. Now the Oxford Reformers, beside their views about religion, had also very decided opinions on politics, and one of the things they were most clearly convinced of was Colet's the wickedness of going to war except on the strongest grounds. They knew what dreadful misery it war. caused the people, and they held that no king or prince had a right to seek glory at such a cost. Just before Henry was going to start upon the French expedition, on a Good Friday, Dean Colet had to preach a sermon before him and the courtiers. He was a brave man, and showed himself to be so now. whilst the king and all his followers were full of their ambitious ideas and hopes of glory, Colet took the opportunity of preaching a bold and outspoken sermon against war, exhorting them to fight under the banner of Christ, their heavenly King, and saying that they who either through hatred, ambition, or covetousness do fight with evil men, and so kill one another, fight not under the banner of Christ, but the devil." It is Erasmus himself, Colet's dear friend, who tells the story. And," he goes on, “he had

66

For

so many other smart passages to this purpose, that his Majesty was somewhat afraid lest this sermon would dishearten his soldiers. Hereupon all the birds of prey flocked about Colet like

an owl, hoping the king would be incensed upon him." For, like all reformers, Colet had plenty of enemies, men who loved darkness rather than light. But now we shall see that at this time, at least, Henry was generous and candid, and knew a good man when he saw him. "His Majesty commands Colet to come before him at Greenwich. He goes into the garden of the monastery of the Franciscans, which was near, and presently dismisseth his attendants. When they two were alone the king bid Colet cover his head, and speak his mind freely; and then his Highness began thus: Dean, be not surprised with needless fear; I did not send for you hither to disturb your most holy labours (which I resolve to cherish as much as I can), but to unload my conscience of some scruples, and to desire your advice concerning my duty.' The conference lasted almost an hour and a half, and I must not relate it all. In the mean while Bricot (the Franciscan bishop) was in the court stark wild, hoping that Colet had been in great danger, whereas the king and he agreed in every particular very well. When they returned from the garden to the court, the king, being about to dismiss Colet, called for a cup, and drank to him, embracing him most kindly, and promising him all the favours that could be expected from a most loving prince, dimissed him. And now the courtiers standing round the king expected to hear the issue of this long conference; and the king, in the hearing of them all, said, 'Well, let other men choose what doctors they please, and make much of them; this man shall be my doctor.' Whereupon Bricot, with the rest of the gaping wolves, departed, and from that day forward never dared trouble Colet any more."

Sir Thomas

More.

28. Still it is to be feared that the effect of the sermon was rather like that of St. Anthony to the fishes.* Much the same too, may be said of the wise words of Sir Thomas More, the youngest of the Oxford Reformers, and perhaps the best beloved. It was he who wrote the lives of Edward V. and Richard III., of which we have already heard. He afterwards put his thoughts about government, and education, and social life into one of the most charming little books an Englishman ever wrote. All his ideas on those topics

"The sermon now en led,
To his business each wended;
The pikes to their thieving,
The eels to good living;
Much delighted were they,
But went on the old way.

were so different from the facts he saw about him that he was obliged to invent a country where they could be realized. In that country war was detested; pomp and luxury were despised; gold and silver were used to make chains and fetters for criminals; pearls and diamonds were the toys and ornaments of children. But the things which really make life happy were shared in abundance by all. Every one had a pleasant house and a beautiful garden; every one knew how to read and write, and had leisure to do so. No one was allowed to work too hard; no one was allowed to be idle; no one quarrelled about his religion, nor was any one punished on account of it. The rulers ruled for the sake of the people, to make them wise, safe, and happy, and not for any pride or profit of their own.

This land was a distant island far away in the southern seas. It was called Utopia, or "the Land of Nowhere." Perhaps if More could revisit the earth and his old home now, he might think we are still a long way off from "Utopia."

LECTURE XLI.-THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

Cardinal Wolsey. His rise and greatness. Henry and Katherine. Fall of Wolsey. The Pope's supremacy renounced. The king declared head of the Church. Deaths of More and Fisher.

1513. Battle of

1. WHILE Henry was in France, winning a few easy victories which did no good whatever to the country, the Scotch as usual took the opportunity of quarrelling with England, and the great battle of Flodden Field was fought, in which the English wiped away the disgrace of Bannockburn by entirely defeating the Scotch, and of which we can read an animated account in Marmion.' In this battle the Scotch king and many of the highest nobles of the land were killed.

Flodden

Field.

2. Some time after this England and France made peace, and the two kings met. There was a fine young King of France now, as well as of England, and their interview was of a very different kind from that of Edward IV. and the French king through the gratings on the bridge. This royal meeting was so grand and splendid that it was called the "Field of the Cloth of Gold." There were fine tournaments, and shows of all sorts, plenty of compliments and embraces, and the two young kings called each other brothers. But no great good came of it at all, for in another year or two the two sworn brothers went to war again.

1519..

Wolsey.

3. We must now hear a little about the man who arranged this, and who guided and advised the king in all matters, great and small. This was the man before referred to as the very type of a clever, proud, and worldly churchman, Cardinal Wolsey. We have often observed already how a man even of the very lowest class, if he had talents and capabilities, might rise to the highest rank in the Church, so as to be equal and even superior to kings and emperors. Wolsey was one who rose thus. The man who wrote his life, of which we shall read a few extracts, was a gentleman in his service;