These so great preparations, made the cardinal use many rigorous means of getting moneys, as by visitation of religious houses, etc. and at last by the ruin of divers. To perform this yet, he was to obtain the consent of the pope and his king. The reasons represented to the pope, were, I suppose, of this nature:

That his holiness could not be ignorant what divers effects this new invention of printing had produc'd. For as it had brought in and restor'd books and learning, so together it had been the occasion of those sects and schisms which daily appeared in the world, but chiefly in Germany; where men began now to call in question the present faith and tenets of the Church, and to examine how far religion is departed from its primitive institution. And, that which particularly was most to be lamented, they had exhorted lay and ordinary men to read the Scriptures, and to pray in their vulgar tongue. That, if this were suffer'd, besides all other dangers, the common people at last might come to believe that there was not so much use of the clergy.

For if men were persuaded once they could make their own way to God, and that prayers in their native and ordinary language might pierce heaven, as well as Latin; how much would the authority of the mass fall? How prejudicial might this prove unto all our ecclesiastical orders?

That there were many things to be look'd to in these innovators, but nothing so much as this; since it was clear, that the keeping of the mysteries of religion in the hands of priests, had been a principal means in all ages, of making the priesthood sacred and venerable. That these mysteries and rites therefore, as the greatest secret and arcanum of church-government, should be preserv'd. Nay, that the clergy should rather fly to tropes and

allegories, if not to Cabala it self, than permit that all the parts of religious worship, though so obvious, as to fall easily within common understandings, should be without their explication; since it might be well question'd, whether the essence of religion, (consisting in the doctrine of good life and repentance) might be held sufficient alone to exercise even the most vulgar capacities; unless frequent traditions concerning former times, and such obscure passages as need interpretation, did concur. In which state of things therefore, nothing remain'd so much to be done, as to prevent further apostacy. For this purpose, since printing could not be put down, it were best to set up learning against learning; and, by introducing able persons to dispute, to suspend the laity, betwixt fear and controversies. This, at worst yet, would make them attentive to their superiors and teachers. All which being maturely weigh'd by his holiness, it was not doubted but he would advise, and commend to all Christian princes, the erecting of new colleges and seminaries for the advancement of learning; and here in England particularly, where many favourers of Luther's sect, but especially of Zuinglius, did appear. Yet because his holiness, by our ambassadors at Rome, had divers times been inform'd of the great expences of his king in the wars he had made with France and Scotland, he did not think it the best course to desire any money out of his purse. That therefore he had thought of another expedient, which he humbly offer'd to his holiness; which was, that in regard the number of monasteries was greater in this kingdom, than that there could be found learned men to supply them; that it were not amiss to diminish the one a little, to increase the other. That as this would take away the objection of ignorance, wherewith the new sectaries in Germany had

so much branded the clergy, so it would furnish able persons to resist their doctrine, and uphold the credit and reputation of the Roman Church. Therefore he would be an humble suppliant to his holiness, to give him leave to throw down a few superfluous monasteries, and to imploy the revenues of them to the building of two colleges; one at Oxford, the other at Ipswich; and to believe, that all things being rightly considered, the fall of those few might be a means to keep up the rest, especially since, in this kingdom, the number of them was thought excessive.

To the king; as he needed not to use those motives, so he discreetly conceal'd such as might discover the secrets of ecclesiastical government. For certainly, what fault soever might be objected to the cardinal, he seem'd still a devout servant to his religion, as aspiring thereby unto the papacy. Therefore, he said little more unto the king, than that it was fit so learned a prince should advance learning, and maintain that faith, whereof the pope had made him the defender. For this purpose, he should advise him to found more colleges. Yet because his wars and other occasions had so exhausted his treasury, he would ask no more, than that the care thereof should be committed to him; who, if his highness so thought fit, would only suppress some little and unnecessary monasteries, and imploy the revenues to this use. King Henry also considering, that if, for his urgent occasions, he were necessitated at any time to seize on the other religious houses, he might this way discover how the people would take it, grants his request. Our king thus concurring with the pope, who, in favour of the cardinal, gave way to this suppression, that overture was first made, which being pursu'd afterwards by the king's sole authority, became

the final ruin of all monasteries.-Life and Reign of King Henry VIII.

4. An Estimate of Wolsey.

AND thus concluded that great cardinal. A man in whom ability of parts and industry were equally eminent, though, for being employ'd wholly in ambitious ways, they became dangerous instruments of power in active and mutable times. By these arts yet he found means to govern not only the chief affairs of this kingdom, but of Europe; there being no potentate, which, in his turn, did not seek to him; and as this procur'd him divers pensions, so, when he acquainted the king therewith, his manner was, so cunningly to disoblige that prince who did fee him last, as he made way thereby oftentimes to receive as much on the other side. But not of secular princes alone, but even of the pope and clergy of Rome he was no little courted; of which therefore he made especial use, while he drew them to second him on most occasions. His birth being otherwise so obscure and mean, as no man had ever stood so single: for which reason also, his chief endeavour was not to displease any great person, which yet could not secure him against the divers pretenders of that time. For as all things pass'd through his hands, so they who fail'd in their suits generally hated him, all which, though it did but exasperate his ill nature, yet this good resultance follow'd, that it made him take the more care to be just; whereof also he obtain'd the reputation in his publick hearing of causes. lov'd no body, so his reason carried him. was an useful minister of his king, in all there was no question of disserving the Roman Church;

For as he And thus he

points, where

of which (at what price soever) I find he was a zealous servant; as hoping thereby to aspire to the papacy, whereof (as the factious times then were) he seem'd more capable than any, had he not so immoderately affected it. Whereby also it was not hard to judge of his inclinations. That prince, who was ablest to help him to this dignity, being ever preferr'd by him, which therefore was the ordinary bait by which the emperor and French king, one after the other, did catch him. And, upon these terms, he doubted not to convey vast treasures out of this kingdom, especially unto Rome, where he had not a few cardinals at his devotion. By whose help, though he could not obtain that supreme dignity he so passionately desir'd, yet he prevail'd himself so much of their favour, as he got a kind of absolute power in spiritual matters at home. Wherewith again he so serv'd the king's turn, as it made him think the less of using his own authority. One error seemed common to both, which was, that such a multiplicity of offices and places were invested in him. For as it drew much envy upon the cardinal in particular, so it derogated no little from the regal authority, while one man alone seem'd to exhaust all. Since it becometh princes to do like good husbandmen when they sow their grounds, which is, to scatter, and not to throw all in one place. He was no great dissembler, for so qualified a person; as ordering his business for the most part so cautiously, as he got more by keeping his word than by breaking it. As for his learning, (which was far from exact) it consisted chiefly in the subtilties of the Thomists, wherewith the king and himself did more often weary than satisfie each other. His style in missives was rather copious than eloquent, yet ever tending to the point. Briefly, if it be true (as Polydore observes) that no man ever did risé