Principal Events.

THE Son of Margaret Beaufort (great granddaughter of John of Ghent) and of Edmund Tudor is crowned at Westminster (30th Oct.)

1486. He marries the Princess Elizabeth of York, thus uniting the houses of York and Lancaster, (18th Jan.)

He represses insurrections raised at York by Lord Lovel, and at Worcester by Sir H. Stafford and his brother, partisans of the House of York.

Birth of a prince, named Arthur, (20th Sept.) 1487. An insurrection, headed by Lambert Simnel, who personates the Earl of Warwick, and whose troops, under the Earl of Lincoln, are defeated at Stoke, in Nottinghamshire.

A.D.

Observations.

24 YEARS

54 YEARS

Contemporary Events.

66

The entry of Henry VII. into London was delayed by a plague, called the
Sweating Sickness." At his coronation, he bestowed the rank of Knight
Banneret on twelve persons, and created his uncle, Jasper Tudor, Duke of
Bedford, and his stepfather, Thomas, Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby.

the Princess Elizabeth, yet the early years of his reign were disturbed by the
Although the defective title of Henry was strengthened by his marriage with
frequent hostility of the adherents of the House of York, an hostility, doubtless,
increased by his general resumption of the grants made by the princes of that
line. In his progress to the north, news reached him of the risings of Lord
The elder Stafford was executed, and Lord Lovel
escaped to the Court of the Duchess of Burgundy, which now became the resort
of all the adherents of the House of York.

Coronation of the Queen at Westminster (20th Lovel and the Staffords. Nov.)

The powers of the Court of the Star Chamber are enlarged.

1488. Henry enters into an alliance with the Duke of Brittany, and sends an auxiliary force to assist that prince against Charles VIII., of France. Under pretext of the war with France, Henry obtains an aid from parliament, which leads to an unsuccessful insurrection under Sir J. Egremond. 1491. Arbitrary levy of supplies, called Benevolences.

1492. Henry embarks for Calais (6th Oct.), and commences the siege of Boulogne, but accepts terms of peace on the payment of £400,000, and an annual tribute.

The only direct heir of the House of York, still living, was the Earl of Warwick, son of the attainted Duke of Clarence. He was imprisoned by Henry VII., but, in the second year of this reign, there appeared in Ireland a young man personating him. Great obscurity rests over the motives of those who sided with this impostor, whose real name was Lambert Simnel. Simnel was actually crowned in Ireland, and received the support of John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, the son of Elizabeth, the eldest sister of Edward IV., and to whom the person of the Earl of Warwick must have been well known. After his capture at Stoke, Simnel's life was spared, and he was employed in a menial office in the palace.

Scarcely had the plot on behalf of Simnel been suppressed, when the appearance of another Pretender called forth the activity of Henry. It was generally believed that the infant Duke of York had been murdered in the Tower, with his brother, Edward V. In 1492, however, there landed at Cork a young man of noble bearing. This youth was soon rumoured to be no other than Richard, Duke of York, who, it was said, had escaped from the Tower. As the English settlers in Ireland were warmly attached to the House of York, he received their support. The king of Scotland gave him, in marriage, the An insurrection in behalf of Perkin Warbeck, hand of his relative, Lady Catherine Gordon, and marched into England to who personates Richard, Duke of York, and who, crown, at length landed in England; but, being met by the royal forces, his support his cause. Perkin Warbeck, such was the name of this claimant for the two years later, fails in his attempt to land in Kent. followers were dispersed, and he took refuge in the Sanctuary of Beaulieu Abbey. 1495. Henry, the second son of the king, is ap-committed to the Tower. Here he contracted a friendship with a companion in By a promise of pardon, his person was secured by Henry, and he was at length pointed governor of Ireland. Sir Edward Poyning, misfortune, the imprisoned son of the Duke of Clarence. A plan of escape was

died A.D. 1498.

EMPERORS OF GERMANY.
Frederick III.
died A.D. 1493.
Maximilian (son)

• ...

James III. of Scotland is defeated at Bannockburn by his barons, by whom he is murdered, (1488).

Charles VIII. of France annexes Brittany,

by his marriage with Anne, the heiress of that province, (1489).

into England by Bartholomew Columbus.

Maps and sea-charts are first brought

Conquest of Granada by Ferdinand and Isabella. Fall of the Moorish power in Spain, (1492).

America is discovered by Christopher
Columbus, (1492).

Algebra is introduced into Europe, (1494.)
The Emperor Maximilian establishes per-

petual internal peace (1495), and divides
Germany into six circles, (1500), to which
four more are added (1512).

Temporary success in Italy of Charles
VIII. of France, who, assisted by Louis

Moro, revived the claims of the House of
Anjou to Naples, (1495).

Marriage of the Arch-Duke Philip, son of the Emperor Maximilian, with Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, (1496). Maritime discoveries of the Portuguese

under Emmanuel the Great, (1495-1521).

Vasco de Gama doubles the Cape of Good Hope, and reaches India, (1497).

Louis XII. of France renews the French

claims in Italy, (1498), and gains Naples, but is expelled by Gonzalo, "the Great Captain," by the victory of Cerignolles, (1503).

Discovery by the Portuguese of Brazil,

(1500), and of Madagascar, (1507).

Death of Isabella of Spain: she is succeeded in Castile by her daughter, Joanna,

and her husband, Philip, (1504).
Catholic as king of Naples and Sicily, (1504)

Final establishment of Ferdinand the which remain provinces of Spain till A.D.

1700.

his deputy, succeeds in passing the act by which the said to have been concerted between them. On this pretence Warbeck and the
English laws are established in that island.
Earl of Warwick were executed. Sir William Stanley, to whom Henry was
conspiracy.
greatly indebted for the crown, suffered for his alleged knowledge of this

Subsidies are obtained from parliament, in support of the league of the Italian states against France. 1497. An insurrection in Cornwall, caused by the levy of the subsidy. The insurgents, headed by Lord Audley, march into Kent, and are defeated by Henry at Blackheath (22nd June).

1498. Henry obtains the person of Perkin Warbeck, who had landed in Cornwall, and had attempted the siege of Exeter.

1499. The execution of Warbeck and of the Earl of Warwick, on a charge of conspiring to escape. 1501. Catherine of Arragon, the fourth daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, is betrothed to Prince Arthur, and, on his death, (1502), to his younger brother, Henry.

It is important for the student to remember the marriage of Margaret, the
eldest daughter of Henry VII., with James IV. of Scotland, as it was eventually
the source of the union of the English and Scotch crowns (A.D. 1603).
directed against Maintenance, or the practise common among the nobles of
Among the important measures of this reign must be mentioned the statutes
enlisting under them numerous retainers bearing their badges: the extension
of the powers of the Court of the Star Chamber-a tribunal, the jurisdiction of
short of death; and the re-enactment of a statute of Richard III., giving to
which was not strictly defined by law, but which could inflict any sentence
the nobility the power to break their ancient entails, and to dispose of their
estates-a measure calculated to lessen the fortunes of the nobles, while it tended
to increase the property of the commons.

The grants known as Benevolences, of which we find frequent mention in this
reign, were nominally gifts from the subject to the crown, but were in reality
compulsory levies, being made recoverable by course of law.

During this reign the important discovery of America was made by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa. Accident only prevented the name of Henry being associated with this memorable event. The arrival of the messenger

The marriage of Margaret, the eldest daughter of conveying promises of assistance from the English king was delayed until the the king, with James IV., of Scotland.

great navigator had left the Spanish ports. An expedition was shortly after-
wards fitted out by Henry, and placed under the command of Sebastian Cabot.

Extortions of the Ministers, Empson and Dudley, Cabot touched at Newfoundland, (1497) and discovered Labrador. during the latter years of this reign.

Although the direct male line of the house of York had become extinct on the death of the Earl of Warwick, a descendant of Richard Plantagenet still survived. Elizabeth, the sister of Edward IV., had left by De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, two sons. The elder, the Earl of Lincoln, fell at the battle of Stoke: the younger, Edmund, Earl of Suffolk, had after a time retired to Flanders. It was the wish of Henry to obtain possession of his person, and the accidental visit of the Archduke Philip to this country (A.D. 1506) afforded the English king an opportunity to gratify his wish. A promise having been obtained that his life should be spared, Suffolk was invited by Philip from Flanders, and was delivered up to Henry, by whom he was committed to the Tower.

The commencement of the modern English navy may be traced to this reign. Until this period, in order to obtain a fleet, the king was obliged either to hire or to press into his service private vessels. A ship of war, of 1000 tons burden, was constructed by Henry, called the "Great Harry," at the cost of fourteen thousand pounds.

Married, ELIZABETH of York. Issue, Arthur, died A.D. 1502. HENRY (VIII.) Margaret, widow of James IV. of Scotland, married the Earl of Angus. Mary, widow of Louis XII. of France, married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

Principal Events.

THE eldest surviving son of Henry VII., succeeds to
the throne at the age of eighteen (22nd April).
He marries Catherine of Arragon, who had been
affianced to his brother Arthur (3rd June).

Coronation of the king and queen (24th June). 1510. Henry receives into favour Wolsey, who, five years later, is created Cardinal and Chancellor. 1513. Alliance between England, Austria and Spain against Louis XII. of France.-Henry gains the victory of Guinegaste, known as the "Battle of the Spurs," (16th August).

The English troops, under the Earl of Surrey, defeat James IV. of Scotland (the ally of Louis XII.) at Flodden Field (9th September).

1514. Peace is concluded with Louis XII., who marries Mary Tudor, sister of the king, but dies three months later, (1st Jan., 1515).

1516. Henry's First Parliament is dissolved. 1520. Meeting between Henry and Francis I. of France, on the plain of Ardres, near Calais,-known "the Field of the Cloth of Gold."

as

1522. Henry enters into a league with the Emperor Charles V. against Francis I.

1523. Henry's Second Parliament meets (15th April), Sir T. More, Speaker.

1525. Alliance between Henry and Francis I. 1526. Henry seeks unsuccessfully to obtain from Clement VII. a divorce from Queen Catherine.

1529. He deprives Wolsey of the Great Seal, and orders his prosecution. Death of Wolsey (1530). 1533. Appointment of Cranmer to the See of Canterbury, who pronounces a sentence of divorce between the king and Catherine, and ratifies a previous marriage with Anne Boleyn.

A.D.

Alternately the ally of Austria and of France in the struggle carried on between those powers in Italy, but little glory attended the arms of the English of his nobles fell. The chief interest of English history during this and the king, except at the battle of Flodden, where James IV. of Scotland and many three succeeding reigns is, however, to be looked for in connection with the great religious movements then in progress.

Wolsey, a person of humble birth, whose name occupies so prominent a place
in the annals of this reign, had been introduced by Fox, Bishop of Durham, to
Henry VII. By his address and talents he soon rose into favour. With
ambition equal to his talents, his conduct too often accorded little with his
sacred calling. The cause of his final overthrrow was the dissatisfaction of
Henry VIII. with the part which he took in the question of the divorce from
Queen Catherine, when the Great Seal was bestowed upon Sir Thomas More.
One disgrace followed another, and the fall of Wolsey was, at length, completed
by a summons to London to answer a charge of high treason,-an event which
was soon followed by his death (29th Nov., 1530.)

Henry had been married to Catherine eighteen years, when he professed to
doubt the lawfulness of the union, on the ground of her previous betrothal to
his brother. The king's scruples were, doubtless, kept alive by an attachment
which he had formed for Anne Boleyn, a lady of the court.
Clement VI. for a divorce. A papal commission was opened, by Cardinals
He applied to Pope
Wolsey and Campeggio, to decide upon the cause. The result, however, was
not favourable, and Henry determined to adopt another course to obtain the
object of his wishes. A young ecclesiastic, named Cranmer, proposed that the

Mexico is conquered by Cortez, (1520). First war of Charles V. with Francis I., Soliman the Magnificent takes Belgrade from Louis of Hungary, (1521).

question as to the legality of the marriage should be referred to the Universities (1521).

An imperial Diet condemns the writings of Luther, (1521).

of Europe, from several of which favourable answers were obtained. Cranmer
was appointed primate, pronounced a divorce between Henry and Catherine,
and ratified a secret marriage which the king had already contracted with
Anne Boleyn. For this step Henry was threatened with the severest censures
of the Church, when he was led by the advice of Cromwell and Cranmer to
adopt the decisive measure of declaring himself the Supreme Head of the Church (1530).
of England. This title was ratified by parliament, and by this step England
was separated from communion with Rome.

The Knights of St. John, expelled by the Turks from Rhodes, (1522), retire to Malta,

The union of Calmar is dissolved-Sweden is rendered independent of Denmark by the treaty of Malmö, (1524).

Albert of Brandenburg embraces Lutheranism, seizes the lands of the Teutonic

knights, and is declared hereditary Duke of Prussia, (1525).

On the execution of Anne Boleyn, the king espoused Jane Seymour, who died in 1537. In 1540, negotiations were entered into by Cromwell for the marriage of Henry with Anne of Cleves, and the dissatisfaction of the king with this princess led to the fall of that minister. A divorce was pronounced between Henry and Anne, and a marriage then took place with Catherine Howard, whose execution on charges of misconduct followed within two years. Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry, survived him. 1534. Henry is declared by parliament Supreme in the service of the ambitious cardinal. It was by his advice that, in order Cromwell, who succeeded Wolsey in the favour of the king, had been originally Bohemia and Hungary, on the death of Louis Head of the English Church. to obtain their acquiescence in his views on the subject of the first divorce, the

Francis I., captured at the battle of Pavia by the Constable de Bourbon, (1525), is released by the treaty of Madrid, on relinquishing Milan, (1526).

Accession of the House of Hapsburg in IV., by the marriage of Ferdinand I. of Austria with Anne, sister of Louis, (1526).

1535. Cromwell is appointed Secretary of State. 1536. Suppression of the lesser monasteries.

king adopted the course of intimidating the clergy, who were accused, under
the act called the "Statute of Provisors," of having recognised the powers of
the legatine court of Wolsey and Campeggio. By the acknowledgment, how-
ever, of the king's supremacy, and the payment of a heavy fine, they obtained
a pardon.

Second war between Charles V. and Francis regains Burgundy, (1527).

Francis I., in alliance with Clement Vil.

Conquest of Peru by Pizarro.

The Lutherans, condemned by the diet of Spires. (1529), present their confession of faith at Augsburg, (1530).

Peace of Cambray between Charles V. and Francis I., (1529).

The League of Smalkald formed by the Protestant princes, (1530).

liberty to the Protestants, (1532).

The diet of Nuremberg grants religious

Hayraddin Barbarossa (the Turkish ad

miral) founds the piratical states of Tunis, (1532).

A sentence of divorce between Henry and Anne Boleyn is pronounced by Cranmer, who declares the marriage void from the first, and the issue (Elizabeth), into the state of the smaller monasteries, in which the existence of scandals was By Cromwell's influence commissioners were appointed (1536), to enquire illegitimate. reported, though it was declared that "religion was right well observed in the Execution of Anne Boleyn (19th May), and mar-greater monastic houses." Under the sanction of this report the lesser riage of the king with Jane Seymour (20th May). monasteries were seized, and, in 1539, parliament passed an act putting at the disposal of the king the remaining religious establishments. In 1545 another Suppression of a rising in Yorkshire, known as act was passed, which empowered him to seize the revenues of the Universities; the "Pilgrimage of Grace." -a measure, however, which was not carried into effect. The dissolution of the monastic bodies led to numerous disturbances, the most important of which was a rising in Yorkshire, headed by R. Aske, and supported by several of the northern nobility, but suppressed by Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Among the more illustrious victims to the cruelty of Henry we may mention Edward Stafford (Duke of Buckingham), whose death was probably owing to the nearness of his claims to the crown,-Edmund de la Pole and Edward Courteney (Marquis of Exeter), whose mothers were Plantagenets,—the aged Countess of Salisbury, daughter of the ill-fated Duke of Clarence, and her, son, Henry Pole (Lord Montague),-Bishop Fisher, and Sir Thomas More, the two latter of whom were executed for denial of the king's supremacy.

Wales is incorporated with England.

1537. The birth of Prince Edward (VI.) (12th Oct.) followed by the death of the queen (24th Oct.)

1539. The law called that of the "Six Articles,' is passed. Catholic reaction under Bishop Gardiner. Surrender of the larger monasteries to the crown, about four hundred in number.

1540. Marriage of the king with Anne of Cleves, followed by the attainder and execution of Cromwell. An act giving to a proclamation of the king the

force of law.

1541. Henry obtains a divorce from Anne of Cleves, and is married to Lady Catherine Howard.

1542. Execution of Queen Catherine Howard. War is declared against the Scots, who are defeated at Solway Moss by the Earl of Surrey (created Duke of Norfolk.)

1543. Marriage of the king with Catherine Parr. Wales first sends representatives to Parliament. 1544. An act is passed, giving the king power to regulate the succession to the crown.

1546. Peace is concluded with France and Scotland. 1547. The Earl of Surrey is executed, and a bill of attainder is passed against the Duke of Norfolk, whose life is saved by the death of the king (28th Jan.).

The attempt of Henry to re-assert the claim to feudal superiority over Scotland resulted in a second war with that country. The defeat of the Scots at Solway Moss by the Duke of Norfolk (1542) was soon followed by the death of James V., leaving an infant daughter, Mary. To unite Scotland to his own dominions, Henry now proposed a marriage between her and his son Edward. The opposition of the Regent Cardinal Beaton to this proposal led to the renewal of the war, and an army under Edward Seymour (Marquis of Hertford) was sent to ravage Scotland.

In Ireland the authority of Henry was, on his accession, exercised only over part of five counties-a district known as the Pale: the rest of the island was governed by ninety chieftains, sixty of Irish and thirty of English origin. By taking advantage of the dissensions between some of these powerful chieftains, and by grants of peerages to others, Henry greatly extended the royal authority; and at a parliament held at Dublin (1541), he was declared king instead of lord of Ireland. Wales, which had hitherto contained about one hundred and forty twelve counties, and was subjected to English law.

lordships, from which the king's writs were excluded, was now divided into

In this reign the king of England first assumed the style of "Majesty instead of "Highness," which had been formerly employed. To other titles The office of Secretary of State was instituted, 1530. Post-offices were was added that of "Defender of the Faith," conferred on Henry by Leo X. established, 1531.

John of Leyden heads the insurgent Anabaptists at Munster, (1534).

Death of Francis, the last of the Sforzas,

(1535).-Milan, conferred by Charles V. on

his son Philip, remains a Spanish prov.nce till A.D. 1700.”

Third war between Charles V. and Francis of Nice, (1538).

(1536), followed by the ten years' truce

Fourth war between Charles V and Francis I., in alliance with the Protestants of Germany, (1541).

The first Interim" is issued by the

Diet of Ratisbon.

The Peace of Crespy between Charles V. and Francis I., (1544).

The Council of Trent opens, (1545).

Married, 3rdly, Jane Seymour. Issue, EDWARD (VI.) Married, 6thly, Catherine Parr.

Married, 2ndly, Anne Boleyn. Issue, ELIZABETH.
Married, 5thly, Catherine Howard.

Married, 1st, Catherine of Arragon. Issue, MARY.
Married, 4thly, Anne of Cleves.

Principal Events.

THE son of Henry VIII. and Jane Seymour, succeeds to the throne at the age of nine (28th Jan.); the government being entrusted during his minority to sixteen "Executors" named by the late king. Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford (afterwards Duke of Somerset), uncle of the king, is appointed Protector by the "Executors" (6th Feb.)

A.D.

Observations.

6 YEARS 6 MONTHS

15 YEARS 9 MONTHS

IN violation of the will of Henry VIII., the Duke of Somerset was appointed protector. The powers of his commission were soon afterwards still further enlarged, and to him, as well as to other members of the Council, lands were granted out of the spoils of the dissolved monasteries. During the absence of Somerset in Scotland, however, a rival appeared in the person of his younger brother, Thomas, Lord Sudeley. This nobleman had married the dowager queen Catherine Parr, and, after her death, had sought the hand of the princess Elizabeth. This and other ambitious projects excited the jealousy of Somerset, by whose influence the younger Seymour was convicted and executed, without Edward is crowned at Westminster (20th Feb.) being heard in his defence. The fall of the protector, however, was not far distant. Within eight months, Thomas Dudley, son of the rapacious minister A proposal for the marriage of the king with of Henry VII., sought to replace him, and brought against him charges of an Mary, Queen of Scots, is rejected, through the in-attempt to usurp the sovereign power. Somerset confessed the truth of these charges; and, although his life was spared at the time, he was executed within two years. The chief power was now lodged in the hands of Dudley (Duke of Northumberland). By his influence the settlement was effected by which the Guildford Dudley, and the grand-daughter of Mary Tudor, by her second crown was bequeathed to Lady Jane Grey, the wife of his youngest son, marriage with Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

fluence of the Guises.

The Protector invades Scotland, and defeats the troops of the regent, Earl of Arran, at Pinkey (10th Sept.)

1549. Parliament establishes the Protestant religion, and adopts the Book of Common Prayer. First Act of Uniformity.

Revolt of the peasants in Norfolk, headed by Kett, a tanner, which is suppressed by Thomas Dudley, Earl of Warwick (Jan. 10th).

To turn from the political to the religious events of this reign. One of the which was favoured by most of the members of the council. To effect this, first steps of the protector was to establish the protestant religion, the cause of the penalties enacted by Henry VIII. against the profession of the Lutheran tenets were repealed, while those directed against the maintenance of the papal supremacy were allowed to remain. The education of Edward was entrusted to men holding the more advanced views of the reformers, opinions which he readily embraced. Visitors were sent over England, to make such alterations Disgrace and arrest of the Duke of Somerset, on in the existing worship as would bring it into a nearer conformity with that of the charge of usurping royal power, at the instiga-prepared, which was, in 1549, adopted by parliament. It is, for the most part, the foreign protestant churches. A collection of offices for public worship was tion of the Earl of Warwick, who is appointed head the same as the Book of Common Prayer now in use. In 1552, forty-two of the council. articles of religion, afterwards reduced to thirty-nine, were agreed upon. The bishops and the members of the council who opposed these changes were committed to prison.

1552. The Earl of Warwick, who is created Duke of Northumberland, obtains the execution of Somerset, and many of his friends.

1553. Illness of the king, who is led by the Duke of Northumberland to make a new settlement of the crown, excluding his sisters Mary and Elizabeth, and naming as his successor Jane, eldest daughter of Henry Grey (Duke of. Suffolk), by Frances, grand-daughter of Henry VII.

The princess Mary was ordered to conform to the established form of worship.
The demand of her cousin, Charles V., that she should be allowed the private

exercise of her religion, was rejected. A threat of a declaration of war, however,
on the part of the emperor, alarmed the council; and before the resolution
to employ severe measures was adopted, the death of Edward, who had been
for some time suffering from disease of the lungs, occurred (6th July, 1553).

During this reign, the office of Lord Lieutenant of the county was instituted.

The sons of peers were now first allowed to sit in the House of Commons.