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1521.]

HE IS FOUND GUILTY.

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front of his offending was, in all probability, his royal descent (a circumstance of which Henry evinced a weak and early jealousy) and his haughtiness to Wolsey. The extent of his criminality, if it is right to use so strong a term, was an imprudent prying into futurity, with an unguarded conversation regarding the life of his sovereign, and the possibility of a disputed succession,-questions in those days of difficult handling and dangerous import.

On being found guilty, Norfolk pronounced the sentence of death, but not without tears; to which Buckingham thus replied, with a firm voice, and unchanged demeanour :- "My Lord of Norfolk, you have spoken to me as a traitor should be addressed; but I was never one. Yet, my lords, I in nothing malign you for what you have done unto me; but the eternal God forgive you my death, as I do. I shall never sue to the king for life. Howbeit he is a gracious prince, and more grace may come from him than I desire; and so I beseech you,' my lords, and all my fellows, to pray for me.' "The edge of the axe was then turned to him; and, on going into his barge, Sir Thomas Lovell, treating him with the courtesy belonging to his high rank, requested him to sit down on the cushions and the carpet prepared for him. This he refused, observing, that "yesterday he was Duke of Buckingham, but to-day only Edward Stafford, the poorest caitiff in the world." On the scaffold he retained his firmness, amid the tears and lamentations of the people; he declared he had offended the king through negligence and lack of grace, and, requesting the prayers of those around him, suffered with equal meekness *Herbert, p. 41. Hall, p. 624.

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BUCKINGHAM'S EXECUTION:

[152].

and courage. Carte, and, more recently, Dr Lingard, have laboured to acquit Wolsey of having any hand in his death; but it is certain that the cardinal was the enemy of Buckingham; and there appears no good ground to question the assertion of Lord Herbert, who had carefully examined the records of his trial, that this proud and unforgiving minister was the principal engine which accomplished his ruin. Such, at least, was the opinion of the people, by whom the duke was much beloved; and their judgment was confirmed by the best informed, and perhaps, at that time, the most sagacious prince in Europe. On hearing of his sentence, Charles the Fifth observed, that the butcher's dog, meaning Wolsey, had killed the fairest hart in England.* This nobleman was the fifth in his family who had died a violent death; and it has been well observed, that his pedigree, which is written in blood, is sufficient to characterize an age. His father was beheaded by Richard the Third, his grandfather fell in the battle of St Albans, his greatgrandfather was slain in the fight at Northampton, and the father of this last met his fate on the field of Shrewsbury. He himself left a son, who, in the year succeeding his father's execution, was by act of Parliament restored in blood, and not long after to part of his paternal estates and honours,—a measure which may perhaps be regarded as indicating Henry's private opinion as to the innocence of the father. Buckingham's loss made a great impression, as giving men their first experience of that miserable temper in the king, which, when once incited to suspicion, created causes of offence, and pursued them without pity or remorse. His fall, which, whether

Godwin, p. 47.

1521.]

ITS EFFECTS.

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truly or not, was universally ascribed to Wolsey, made the courtiers more wary in the display of their magnificence, and the great proprietors less anxious to be surrounded by their tenantry and retainers. In this way it eclipsed the splendour of the court, banished hospitality from the castle, and convinced men, that to disoblige the monarch was sometimes a more pardonable offence than to incur the hatred of his minion.*

* Godwin, p. 46.

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ATTACK ON LUTHER.

[1521.

CHAPTER IV.

Henry's Book against Luther-Visit of Charles the Fifth to England-Invasion of France-Captivity of Francis the First.

Henry's Animosity to Luther-His Work against him—He is named Defender of the Faith-He deserts Francis-Alliance with the Emperor-Death of Leo the Tenth-Charles the Fifth's Visit to England-House of Commons-Debate on Supplies-Invasion of France-Constable Bourbon-Battle of Pavia -Captivity of Francis the First.

HENRY VIII., we have seen, had received a learned education. Having been destined for the Church, he had studied the writings of Aquinas, and cultivated a taste for controversial divinity, which sharpened his intellect without adding materially to his devotional sentiments. The title of Christianissimus, which the Pope had intimated an intention of withdrawing from the French monarch and conferring on him, early enlisted his vanity on the side of Rome; and, not long after he received the first intelligence of the Lutheran controversy, he expressed himself in strong terms against the reformer, in a letter to Lewis of Bavaria. "That this fire,” said he, “ which has been kindled by Luther, and fanned by the arts of the devil, should have raged for so long a time, and be still gathering strength, has been the subject to me of greater grief than tongue or pen can express; and this not only,

1521.]

HENRY'S LETTER.

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my dear friend, on your account, but from my regard for the welfare of Christendom. For, whether we look to the traditions of your ancestors, or consult your historical records, can there be found a single instance where that most indomitable country of yours, which has ever been the firmest citadel of the Church in its affliction, has either knowingly admitted any seeds of heresy into its bosom, or, at least, has not instantly eradicated them, if, by any oversight, they silently insinuated themselves? For, what could have happened more calamitous to Germany, than that she should have given birth to any man who (moved rather by the sinful license of his own judgment, than acting in the sincerity of Christian erudition) has dared to interpret the Divine law, the statutes of the fathers, and those decrees which have received the consent of so many ages, in a manner totally at variance with the opinion of the learned fathers of the Church, -of men whose decision has been ever regarded as conclusive of the truth, proceeding, as it did, from a knowledge of Scripture altogether divine, and sanctioned by a blameless sanctity of life. His offence would have been less intolerable, had he abstained from an attack upon sacred letters,-had he not concealed the hated shapes of heresy and schism under the cloak of religion, had he not, to gratify the pride and iniquity of his mind, consented to bring into peril the Catholic faith, and taught the flock of Christ to desert their master. Since, however, such is the premeditated falsehood of this wicked man, since these wiles of his have, by the permission of God, become so known to the whole world, that all further confutation of them is

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