But so soon as the young prince was forbidden to think of marriage with Katharine, he at once was determined to obtain her, and they were carefully kept apart to prevent a private marriage. When at length the king became convinced of the hopeless insanity of Joanna, Prince Henry and Katharine were married. The event took place on the 11th of June, 1509, and they were together crowned on the 24th of the same month. The queen at this time, though five years older than the king, was, if not handsome, at least of pleasing appearance, and possessed a pious heart and beautiful disposition. She was fond of reading pious books, and all her pleasures were of the gentler sort. That Henry had great confidence in her during the early part of his reign, is very evident from the momentous trusts which he at different times reposed in her. At the close of 1510, the queen gave birth to an infant son, which was christened Henry, but which died a few weeks after its advent into the world. Had this child lived, the queen probably would have been saved all her future troubles. In November, 1514, Katharine again became a mother to a prince, which survived but a few days. In February, 1816, was born the

Princess Mary, who was destined in later years to bear so cruel a sway over the fortunes of the illustrious lady who is the subject of this work. Katharine bore Henry five children, but one, of them all, arriving to years of maturity.

When Henry VIII. came to the throne of England, the religion of the country was Roman Catholic. Indeed, the great Reformation was not commenced. A long time before, Wycliffe had denounced the abominations of the Romish Church, but his doctrines had not taken root in the popular mind, though unquestionably there were many pious people in England who at the date of Henry's accession to power, were disgusted with many of the practices of the Romish priests. Eight years later, and Martin Luther, the humble monk, sounded the note of alarm over Europe, against the frightful doctrine of indulgences. As yet, on every other point, he was a good Catholic; but soon, with an intellect made clear and strong through liberty and a freedom from the prevailing superstition of the times, he went still further, and even questioned the su premacy of the Pope. Germany at once was made the theatre of intense excitement, through the fearless and eloquent words of the courageous

monk; and though the most persevering and energetic efforts were made to put down Luther and his heretical opinions, through the providence of God they were unavailing.

The noise of the excitement on the Continent was heard in England, and Henry VIII. turned author in defence of his religion. He wrote a book to confute the heresies of Luther, entitled "Defence of the Seven Sacraments against Martin Luther," a copy of which was sent to Pope Leo, who was so pleased, that he granted to Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith." Luther immediately replied to the royal author, scattering his flimsy arguments to the winds, and treating him in any but a reverential manner. He even affected not to believe Henry wrote the book, and this piqued the monarch more than Luther's logic. By the skilful management of Cardinal Wolsey, the whole affair set the king the more firmly against Lutheranism, and a contemptible persecution was at once commenced against all persons who possessed copies of the heretical books.

Thomas Wolsey was the son of an Ipswich butcher, who gave him an admirable education, and fitted him for the Church. He was first a

country parson, but his learning, wit, and talents becoming known to Bishop Fox, he introduced him to his master, Henry VII. Upon the accession of Henry VIII. Bishop Fox and the Duke of Norfolk struggled for the supremacy in the council, and when the bishop perceived that the soldier was fast gaining the confidence of the king, he brought Wolsey under the notice of Henry, hoping thereby to get the upper hand of the Duke of Norfolk. But Wolsey, with astonishing talent, became himself the most powerful and influential man at court, and left his friends the duke and bishop, far behind him in the race for distinction. He at once adapted himself to all the sensual desires of the king, eating and drinking like any courtier, and yet when there was occasion, showing that he possessed not only profound learning, but also great abilities as a statesman. He was made lord chancellor of the kingdom, and was appointed by the pope to the lucrative and exalted office of papal legate. Ho now became the most gorgeous prelate the world ever saw, maintaining a train of eight hundred persons, and at one time receiving an income as large as that of the king. He was the patron of learning and the arts, and was popular with the

people until he was obliged, to meet the wants of Henry, to tax them too oppressively. Throughout his most brilliant career he was devoted to the interests of his king. He did not hesitate to minister to his basest passions, thongh this was done for the security of his own interests. He was constantly aspiring to the papal chair, and made everything but his devotion to Henry, bend to this ambitious desire. He concealed from the nation his selfishness for a time, but by repeated taxes he lost his popularity. He built the famous palace at Hampton Court, which stands to this day a monument to his splendor. After it was finished, Henry asked of him who it was intended for whereupon the great prelate,. fearing the jealousy of the terrible monarch, (for the palace was the most sumptuous then built in the kingdom,) very handsomely gave it to Henry.

But England was fast approaching the hour ever reckoned the most important in her religious history, and Wolsey, his sad fate. The king had long been noted for his intrigues, his gross devotion to sensual pleasures, and his inconstancy, but had treated his wife with a certain respect, which even that coarse age demanded from him s consistent with propriety. In the year 1523,