whereadoubtexists，togivetheprisoneratthebarthebenefitofit;nottoexcitethemindsofthepublicagainsthimbythoseinsinuativeorvituperativeepithets，whicharebutaddersandscorpions;and，onthewhole，tobelievethataman\'sdeathandburialisnottheleastreasonforceasingtobehavetohimlikeagentlemanandaChristian。Wearenotinclinedtoplaywithsolemnthings，ortocopyLucianandQuevedoinwritingdialoguesofthedead;butwhatdialoguesmightsomeboldpendashoffbetweentheoldsonsofAnak，atwhosecomingHadeshaslongagobeenmoved，andtoreceivewhomallthekingsofthenationhaverisenup，andthelittlescribblerswhohavefanciedthemselvesabletofathomanddescribecharacterstowhomtheywerebutpigmies！Conceiveahalf—
hour\'sinterviewbetweenQueenElizabethandsomepopularlady—
scribbler，whohasbeendeludingherselfintothefancythatgossipinginventoriesofmillineryarehistory……\'Youpretendtojudgeme，whoselabours，whosecares，whosefierytrialswere，besideyours，astheheavingvolcanobesideaboy\'sfirework？Youcondemnmyweaknesses？Knowthattheywerestrongerthanyourstrength！Youimputemotivesformysins？KnowthattillyouareasgreatasI
havebeen，forevilandforgood，youwillbeaslittleabletocomprehendmysinsasmyrighteousness！Poormarsh—croaker，whowishestnotmerelytoswelluptothebulkoftheox，buttoembraceitinthylittlepaws，knowthineownsize，andleavemetobejudgedbyHimwhomademe！\'……Howthepoorsoulwouldshrinkbackintonothingbeforethatlioneyewhichsawandguidedthedestiniesoftheworld，andalltheflunkey—nature（ifsuchaviceexistbeyondthegrave）comeoutinutterabjectness，asiftheassinthefable，onmakinghiskickatthedeadlion，haddiscoveredtohishorrorthatthelionwasaliveandwell——SpiritofQuevedo！finishforusthepicturewhichwecannotfinishforourselves。
InaverydifferentspiritfromsuchhasMr。Froudeapproachedthesetimes。Greatandgooddeedsweredoneinthem;andithasthereforeseemedprobabletohimthatthereweregreatandgoodmentheretodothem。ThoroughlyawaketothefactthattheReformationwasthenewbirthoftheBritishnation，ithasseemedtohimapuzzlingtheorywhichattributesitssuccesstothelustofatyrantandthecupidityofhiscourtiers。Ithasevidentlyseemedtohimparadoxicalthatakingwhowasreputedtohavebeenasatyr，insteadofkeepingasmanyconcubinesasseemedgoodtohim，shouldhavechosentogratifyhispassionsbyenteringsixtimesintothestrictbondsofmatrimony，religiouslyobservingthosebonds。IthasseemedtohimevenmoreparadoxicalthatonereputedtohavebeenthemostsanguinarytyrantwhoeverdisgracedtheEnglishthroneshouldhavebeennotonlyendured，butlovedandregrettedbyafierceandfree—spokenpeople;
andhe，wesuppose，couldcomprehendaslittleaswecanthereasoningofsuchapassageasthefollowing，especiallywhenitproceedsfromthepenofsowiseandvenerableawriterasMr。
Hallam。
\'Agovernmentadministeredwithsofrequentviolations，notonlyofthecharteredprivilegesofEnglishmen，butofthosestillmoresacredrightswhichnaturallawhasestablished，musthavebeenregarded，onewouldimagine，withjustabhorrenceandearnestlongingsforachange。Yetcontemporaryauthoritiesbynomeansanswerthisexpectation。SomementionHenryafterhisdeathinlanguageofeulogy;\'（notonlyElizabeth，beitremembered，butCromwellalso，alwaysspokeofhimwithdeepestrespect;andtheirlanguagealwaysfoundanechointheEnglishheart;）\'andifweexceptthosewhomattachmenttotheancientreligionhadinspiredwithhatredtohismemory，fewseemtohavebeenawarethathisnamewoulddescendtoposterityamongthoseofthemanytyrantsandoppressorsofinnocencewhomthewrathofHeavenhasraisedup，andtheservilityofmanendured。\'
Thenamesofeventhosefewweshouldbegladtohave;foritseemstousthat，withtheexceptionofafewultra—Protestants，whocouldnotforgivethatpersecutionoftheReformerswhichhecertainlypermitted，ifnotencouraged，duringoneperiodofhisreign，nooneadoptedthemodernviewofhischaractertillmorethanahundredyearsafterhisdeath，whenbeliefinallnoblenessandfaithhaddiedoutamonganignobleandfaithlessgeneration，andthescandalousgossipofsuchalightrogueasOsbornewastakenintotheplaceofhonestandrespectfulhistory。
ToclearupsuchseemingparadoxesasthesebycarefullyexaminingthefactsofthesixteenthcenturyhasbeenMr。Froude\'swork;andwehavetheresultsofhislabourintwovolumes，embracingonlyaperiodofelevenyears;butgivingpromisethatthemysteriesofthesucceedingtimewillbewellclearedupforusinfuturevolumes，andthatweshallfindourforefatherstohavebeen，ifnobetter，atleastnoworsementhanourselves。Hehasbroughttothetaskknowntalentsandlearning，amasteryoverEnglishprosealmostunequalledinthisgeneration，aspiritofmostpatientandgood—temperedresearch，andthatintimateknowledgeofhumanmotivesandpassionswhichhisformerbookshaveshown，andwhichwehavearighttoexpectfromanyscholarwhohasreallyprofitedbyAristotle\'sunrivalledEthics。Hehasfairlyexaminedeverycontemporarydocumentwithinhisreach，and，asheinformsusinthepreface，hehasbeenenabled，throughthekindnessofSirFrancisPalgrave，toconsultagreatnumberofMSS。relatingtotheReformation，hithertoallbutunknowntothepublic，andreferredtoinhisworkasMSS。intheRolls\'House，wheretheoriginalsareeasilyaccessible。These，hestates，heintendstopublish，withadditionsfromhisownreading，assoonashehasbroughthishistorydowntotheendofHenrytheEighth\'sreign。
ButMr。Froude\'schieftext—bookseemstohavebeenStatePapersandActsofParliament。Hehasbegunhisworkintheonlytemperinwhichamancanwriteaccuratelyandwell;inatemperoftrusttowardthegenerationwhomhedescribes。Theonlytemper;forifamanhasnoaffectionforthecharactersofwhomhereads，hewillneverunderstandthem;ifhehasnorespectforhissubject，hewillnevertakethetroubletoexhaustit。TosuchanauthortheStatutesatlarge，asthedeliberateexpressionofthenation\'swillandconscience，willappearthemostimportantofallsourcesofinformation;thefirsttobeconsulted，thelasttobecontradicted;
theCanonwhichisnottobecheckedandcorrectedbyprivatelettersandflyingpamphlets，butwhichistocheckandcorrectthem。ThisseemsMr。Froude\'stheory;andweareatnopainstoconfessthatifhebewrongweseenohopeofarrivingattruth。Ifthesepublicdocumentsarenottobeadmittedinevidencebeforeallothers，weseenohopeforthefaithfulandearnesthistorian;hemustgivehimselfuptoswimashemayonthefrothystreamofprivateletters，anecdotes，andpamphlets，thepuppetoftheignorance，credulity，peevishness，spite，ofanyandeverygossipandscribbler。
BeginninghishistorywiththefallofWolsey，Mr。Froudeenters，ofcourse，athisfirststepintothevexedquestionofHenry\'sdivorce:
anintroductorychapter，onthegeneralstateofEngland，weshallnoticehereafter。
Averyshortinspectionofthemethodinwhichhehandlesthedivorcequestiongivesusatonceconfidenceinhistemperandjudgment，andhopethatwemayatlastcometosomeclearerunderstandingofitthantheoldlawgivesus，whichwehavealreadyquoted，concerningthedogwhowentmadtoservehisprivateends。InafewmasterlypageshesketchesforustherottinganddyingChurch，whichhadrecoveredherpoweraftertheWarsoftheRosesoveranexhaustednation;butinformonly，notinlife。Wolsey，withwhomhehasfairandunderstandingsympathy，hesketchesasthetransitionminister，\'lovingEnglandwell，butlovingRomebetter，\'whointendsareformoftheChurch，butwho，asthePope\'scommissionerforthatverypurpose，isliabletoapraemunire，andthereforedarenotappealtoParliamenttocarryouthisdesigns，evenifhecouldhavecountedontheParliament\'sassistanceinanymeasuresdesignedtoinvigoratetheChurch。AtlastarisesinthedivorcequestiontheaccidentwhichbringstoanissueonitsmostvitalpointthequestionofPapalpowerinEngland，andwhichfinallydrawsdownruinuponWolseyhimself。
Thisappearstohavebeguninthewinterof1526—27。ItwasproposedtomarrythePrincessMarytoasonoftheFrenchking。TheBishopofTarbes，whoconductedthenegotiations，advisedhimself，apparentlybyspecialinstigationoftheevilspirit，toraiseaquestionastoherlegitimacy。
NomoreingeniousplanforconvulsingEnglandcouldhavebeendevised。ThemarriagefromwhichMarysprangonlystoodonareluctantanddoubtfuldispensationofthePope\'s。Henryhadenteredintoitattheentreatyofhisministers，contrarytoasolemnpromisegiventohisfather，andinspiteoftheremonstrancesoftheArchbishopofCanterbury。Noblessingseemedtohaverestedonit。
Allhischildrenhaddiedyoung，savethisonesicklygirl:asurenoteofdivinedispleasureintheeyesofthatcoarse—mindedChurchwhichhasalwaysdeclaredthechief，ifnottheonly，purposeofmarriagetobetheprocreationofchildren。
Butmore:toquestionMary\'slegitimacywastothrowopenthequestionofsuccessiontohalfadozenambitiouscompetitors。Itwas，tooprobably，toinvolveEnglandatHenry\'sdeathinanothercivilwaroftheRoses，andinalltheinternecinehorrorswhichwerestillranklinginthememoriesofmen;andprobably，also，tobringdownaFrenchorScotchinvasion。Therewasthentoogoodreason，asMr。Froudeshowsatlength，forWolsey\'sassertiontoJohnCassalis——
\'IfhisHoliness，whichGodforbid，shallshowhimselfunwillingtolistentotheKing\'sdemands，tomeassuredlyitwillbebutgrieftolivelonger，fortheinnumerableevilswhichIforeseewillfollow……Nothingbeforeusbutuniversalandinevitableruin。\'ToogoodreasontherewasfortheconfessionofthePopehimselftoGardner，\'Whatdangeritwastotherealmtohavethisthinghanginsuspense……Thatwithoutanheir—male，etc。，therealmwasliketocometodissolution。\'ToogoodreasonfortheboldassertionoftheCardinal—GovernorofBologna，that\'heknewtheguiseofEnglandasfewmendid，andthatiftheKingshoulddiewithoutheirs—male，hewassurethatitwouldcosttwohundredthousandmen\'slives;andthattoavoidthismischiefbyasecondmarriage，hethought，woulddeserveheaven。\'ToogoodreasonfortheassertionofHall，that\'allindifferentanddiscreetpersonsjudgeditnecessaryforthePopetograntHenryadivorce，and，byenablinghimtomarryagain，givehimthehopeofanundisputedheir—male。\'ThePopehadfullpowertodothis;infact，suchcaseshadbeenforcenturiesintegralpartsofhisjurisdictionasheadofChristendom。Buthewasatoncetootimidandtootime—servingtoexercisehisacknowledgedauthority;andthus，justattheverymomentwhenhisspiritualpowerwasbeingtriedinthebalance，hechosehimselftoexposehispoliticalpowertothesametest。Bothwereequallyfoundwanting。
Hehad，itappeared，aslittlehearttodojusticeamongkingsandprincesashehadtoseekandtosavethesoulsofmen;andtheReformationfollowedasamatterofcourse。
ThroughthetangledbrakesofthisdivorcequestionMr。Froudeleadsuswitheaseandgrace，throwinglight，andevenbeauty，intodarknookswherebeforeallwasmist，notmerelybyhisintimateacquaintancewiththefacts，butstillmorebyhisdeepknowledgeofhumancharacter，andofwoman\'sevenmorethanofman\'s。Forthefirsttimetheactorsinthislongtragedyappeartousasnomerebodilessandsoullessnames，butasbeingsoflikepassionswithourselves，comprehensible，coherent，organic，evenintheirinconsistencies。CatherineofArragonisstilltheCatherineofShakspeare;butMr。FroudehasgivenusthekeytomanypartsofherstorywhichShakspeareleftunexplained，anddelicatelyenoughhasmadeusunderstandhowHenry\'saffections，ifheeverhadanyforher——faithfullyashehadkept（withoneexception）tothatlovelessmariagedeconvenance——mayhavebeengraduallyreplacedbyindifferenceandevendislike，longbeforethedivorcewasforcedonhimasaquestionnotonlyofdutytothenation，butofdutytoHeaven。Andthathedidseeitinthislatterlight，Mr。Froudebringsprooffromhisownwords，fromwhichwecanescapeonlybybelievingthattheconfessedlyhonest\'BluffKingHal\'hadsuddenlybecomeaconsummateliarandacantinghypocrite。
Delicately，too，asifspeakingofaladywhomhehadmetinmodernsociety（asagentlemanisboundtodo），doesMr。Froudetouchonthesinsofthathaplesswoman，whoplayedforHenry\'scrown，andpaidforitwithherlife。Withallmercyandcourtesyhegivesusproof（forhethinksithisdutytodoso）oftheFrenchmis—education，thepettycunning，thetendencytosensuality，thewilfulindelicacyofherpositioninHenry\'shouseholdastherivalofhisqueen，whichmadeherlastcatastropheatleastpossible。Ofthejusticeofhersentencehehasnodoubt，anymorethanofherpre—engagementtosomeone，asprovedbyaletterexistingamongCromwell\'spapers。Poorthing！Ifshedidthatwhichwaslaidtohercharge，andmore，shedidnothing，afterall，butwhatshehadbeeninthehabitofseeingthequeensandprincessesoftheFrenchcourtdonotoriously，andlaughovershamelessly;while，asMr。Froudewellsays，\'Ifwearetoholdherentirelyfreefromguilt，weplacenotonlytheKing，butthePrivyCouncil，theJudges，theLordsandCommons，andthetwoHousesofConvocation，inapositionfataltotheirhonouranddegradingtoordinaryhumanity\'（Mr。FroudeshouldhaveaddedAnneBoleyn\'sownuncle，theDukeofNorfolk，andherfather，whowereonthecommissionappointedtotryherlovers，andhercousin，AnthonySt。Leger，amanoftheveryhighestcharacterandability，whowasonthejurywhichfoundatruebillagainsther）。\'Wecannot，\'
continuesMr。Froude，\'acquiescewithoutinquiryinsopainfulaconclusion。TheEnglishnationalso，aswellasshe，deservesjusticeatourhands;anditcannotbethoughtuncharitableifwelookwithsomescrutinyatthecareerofapersonwho，butforthecatastrophewithwhichitclosed，wouldnothavesoreadilyobtainedforgivenessforhavingadmittedtheaddressesoftheKing，orforhavingreceivedthehomageofthecourtasitsfuturesovereign，whiletheKing\'swife，hermistress，asyetresidedunderthesameroof。\'Mr。Froude\'sconclusionis，afterexaminingthefacts，thesamewiththewholenationofEnglandinHenry\'sreign:butnoonecanaccusehimofwantofsympathywiththeunhappywoman，whoreadstheeloquentandaffectingaccountofhertrialanddeath，whichendshissecondvolume。Ouronlyfearis，thatbyhavingthustoldthetruthhehas，insteadofjustifyingourancestors，onlyaddedonemoretothelistofpeoplewhoaretobe\'givenup\'withacynicalshrugandsmile。Wehaveheardalready，andamongyoungladiestoo，whocanbeascynicalasotherpeopleinthesetimes，suchspeechesas，\'Well，IsupposehehasprovedAnneBoleyntobeabadcreature;
butthatdoesnotmakethathorridHenryanymorerightincuttingoffherhead。\'Thustwopeoplewillbedespisedwhereonlyonewasbefore，andthefactstillignored，thatitisjustassenselesstosaythatHenrycutoffAnneBoleyn\'sheadasthatQueenVictoriahangedPalmer。Death，anddeathofafarmorehorriblekindthanthatwhichAnneBoleynsuffered，wastheestablishedpenaltyoftheoffencesofwhichshewasconvicted:andwhichhadinhercasethisfearfulaggravation，thattheywereoffencesnotagainstHenrymerely，butagainstthewholeEnglishnation。Shehadbeenmarriedinorderthattheremightbeanundisputedheirtothethrone，andafearfulwaravoided。Tothrowintodispute，byanyconductofhers，thelegitimacyofherownoffspring，arguedalevityorahard—
heartednesswhichofitselfdeservedtheseverestpunishment。
WewillpassfromthisdisagreeabletopictoMr。Froude\'slifelikesketchofPopeClement，andtheendlesstracasseriesintowhichhismingledweaknessandcunningledhim，andwhich，likemostcrookeddealings，endedbydefeatingtheirownobject。Pages125etsqq。ofVol。I。containsketchesofhim，histhoughtsandways，asamusingastheyarehistoricallyimportant;butwehavenospacetoquotefromthem。ItwillbewellforthosetowhomtheReformationisstillamatterofastonishmenttoreadthosepages，andconsiderwhatmannerofmanhewas，inspiteofallpretendeddivineauthority，underwhoseruletheRomishsystemreceiveditsirrecoverablewound。
Butofallthesefigures，notexceptingHenry\'sown，Wolseystandsoutasthemostgrandandtragical;andMr。Froudehasdonegoodservicetohistory，ifonlyinmakingusunderstandatlastthewondrous\'butcher\'sson。\'Shakspeareseemstohavefelt（thoughhecouldexplainthereasonneithertohisauditorsnor，perhaps，tohimself）thatWolseywas，onthewhole，anheroicalman。Mr。Froudeshowsatoncehisstrengthandhisweakness;hisdeepsenseoftherottennessoftheChurch;hispurposetopurgeherfromthoseabominationswhichwereaswellknown，itseems，tohimastheywereafterwardstothewholepeopleofEngland;hisvastschemesforeducation;hisstillvasterschemesforbreakingthealliancewithSpain，andunitingFranceandEnglandasfellow—servantsofthePope，andtwin—pillarsofthesacredfabricoftheChurch，whichhelpedsomuchtowardhisinterestinCatherine\'sdivorce，asa\'means\'（thesearehisownwords）\'tobindmymostexcellentsovereignandthisgloriousrealmtotheholyRomanSeeinfaithandobedienceforever\';hishopesofdeposingtheEmperor，puttingdowntheGermanheresies，anddrivingbacktheTurksbeyondthepaleofChristendom;
hispatheticconfessiontotheBishopofBayonnethat\'ifhecouldonlyseethedivorcearranged，theKingre—married，thesuccessionsettled，andthelawsandtheChurchreformed，hewouldretirefromtheworld，andwouldserveGodtheremainderofhisdays。\'
Peacebewithhim！Hewassurelyanoblesoul;misled，itmaybe——aswhoisnotwhenhisturncomes？——bytheprideofconsciouspower;and\'thoughhelovedEnglandwell，yetlovingRomebetter\':butstillitisacomforttosee，eitherinpastorinpresent，onemorebrotherwhomweneednotdespise，eventhoughhemayhavewastedhisenergiesonadream。
Andonadreamhedidwastethem，inspiteofallhiscunning。AsMr。Froude，inanoblepassage，says:—
\'Extravagantashishopesseem，theprospectofrealisingthemwas，humanlyspeaking，neitherchimericalnorevenimprobable。Hehadbutmadethecommonmistakeofmenoftheworld，whoaretherepresentativesofanoldorderofthings，whenthatorderisdoomedanddying。Hecouldnotreadthesignsofthetimes;andconfoundingthebarrennessofdeathwiththebarrennessofwinter，whichmightbefollowedbyanewspringandsummer，hebelievedthattheoldlife—
treeofCatholicism，whichinfactwasbutcumberingtheground，mightbloomagaininitsoldbeauty。ThethingwhichhecalledheresywasthefireofAlmightyGod，whichnopoliticcongregationofprinces，nostatemachinery，thoughitwereneversoactive，couldtrampleout;andas，intheearlyyearsofChristianity，themeanestslavewhowasthrowntothewildbeastsforhispresenceattheforbiddenmysteriesoftheGospelsawdeeper，inthedivinepowerofhisfaith，intothefutureevenofthisearthlyworld，thanthesagestofhisimperialpersecutors，——soatruerpoliticalprophetthanWolseywouldhavebeenfoundinthemostignorantofthosepoormenforwhomhispoliceweresearchinginthepurlieusofLondon，whowereriskingdeathandtortureindisseminatingtheperniciousvolumesoftheEnglishTestament。\'