fond, careful nurse. The King, in his last days, was haunted by the fear that after his death the supporters of the Papal party would proclaim his daughter, Mary, to the prejudice of the Prince of Wales; and that, as the price of her elevation to the throne, she would be required to restore the Catholic rule. Henry caused the heads of the Papist party, therefore, to be arrested, and among them were the powerful Duke of Norfolk, and his son, the Earl of Stcrey. As the crime of high treason could not be laid to the charge of these noblemen, they were accused of quartering a portion of the royal arms with their own escutcheon; and

upon this pretence, a bill of attainder was passed by Parliament. Surrey was beheaded, but the order for his father's execution, on the twentyninth of January, 1547, having been signed by Henry on the twenty-eighth, that monarch breathed his last during the night; and thus, almost by a miracle, was the leader of the Catholics of England saved from the fate intended for him.

In 1539, Miles Coverdale and Nicholas Tyndale made a translation of the Bible, which was the first allowed to be read by the people. The college of Christ Church, at Oxford, and the school at Ipswich, were founded and endowed by the munificence of Cardinal Wolsey; Erasmus was Greek professor in the former university.

It was during the reign of Henry VIII. that the Spaniards, under Cortez, conquered the silver city of Mexico; and under Pizarro, they took possession of Peru, with its almost fabulous treasures. A spur was thus applied to discovery, and colonization was actively prosecuted.

The celebrated artists, Leonardo di Vinci, Raffaelle, and Albert Durer, flourished at this period. Copernicus was making his astronomical researches. Gustavus Vasa was the victorious Monarch of Sweden. Martin Luther, Melancthon, Socinus, and Zuinglius, were propagating the principles of the Reformation; while Ignatius Loyala founded the order of Jesuits, whose object was to extend the Catholic faith by every

human means.

EVIL MAY-DAY, 1517.

In the Tudor age, the apprentices of the City of London were so formidable, that when they turned out with their staves, serious riots were the consequence; and, not unfrequently, these young gentlemen figured in the pillory, and at times were even elevated to the grim horrors of the gallows.

It would appear that considerable jealousy was excited in the city by a report that Katherine of Arragon patronised Spanish merchants, to the prejudice of native traders. May-day was a grand holiday, and the 'prentices, instead of dancing peaceably round the May-pole in the Strand, as was their usual custom, attacked the houses of some Spanish

merchants, and murdered the inhabitants. The Duke of Norfolk having been sent to quell the riot, many of the 'prentices were taken, and hanged to the lamp-posts over their masters' doors.

Several hundreds of these thoughtless youths being in prison, their

broken-hearted mothers proceeded in a body to Westminster, and laid their petition at the feet of the Queen, who forced herself into Henry's presence, and left him not until he granted the misguided boys a full pardon.

SEBASTIAN CABOT.

The

In the privy purse expenses of Henry, is the following entry: "To the man, in reward, who found the new island, ten pounds." island was Newfoundland; and the man, whose labours were SO munificently rewarded, was Sebastian Cabot, of Bristol, who was the first European who landed on the coast of the New World.

There are few such noticeable characters to be met with in history as Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal-Archbishop of York, who played such an important part in the early division of this reign.

He was the son of a butcher at Ipswich; but being adopted by persons who were astonished at his precocious attainments and early promise, he was admitted into holy orders; and, through the interest of Sir John Nanfan, had, in the last reign, been appointed one of the royal chaplains. He attached himself to the service of the Bishop of Winchester, and was intrusted with a secret mission to the imperial court. His address and expedition in fulfilling this delicate office, attracted the King's attention; and previously to the death of Henry VII., we find Wolsey collated to the deanery of Lincoln, one of the most valuable preferments in the Church.

Soon after the accession of the eighth Henry, Wolsey, as almoner to the King, was admitted to the royal friendship. He neglected no means of captivating the young Monarch, and frequently made feasts at his

residence, when he threw off the decencies of his station, and sang, danced, and revelled, with all the levity of his youngest guests.

When Henry commanded the army which he led into France, Wolsey accompanied him; and, on the reduction of Tournay, was appointed administrator of the diocese. He was then made Dean of York, Bishop of Lincoln, and soon afterwards succeeded Bainbridge, as Archbishop of York. His influence was acknowledged by foreign Princes, who sought his favour by valuable presents, and during fifteen years he was completely master of the kingdom. Archbishop Warham having expressed

a desire to devote the remainder of his days to the care of his diocese of Canterbury, the King was pleased to accept his resignation of the Great Seal; and, to the other appointments of Wolsey, was added that of Lord Chancellor.

A historian, who, although a Catholic, is yet just in his description and his estimate of Wolsey's character, tells us that his love of power was only inferior to his love of wealth. He was Chancellor and Papal Legate; Archbishop of York; he farmed the revenues of the Sees of Hereford and Worcester: he also held the Abbey of St. Albans, and the diocese of Bath and Wells, which he afterwards exchanged for the rich bishopric of Durham, and Durham for the administration of the still richer church of Winchester.

The King of France settled upon him an annuity of twelve thousand livres, while Charles of Spain granted him a pension of five hundred ducats.

To such enormous wealth, and to such a pinnacle of splendid power had this man arrived by the year 1518. His expenditure was lavish in the extreme, his establishment consisting of eight hundred individuals. As representative of the Pope, whenever he went abroad, the ensigns of his dignity were borne before him; he was surrounded by noblemen and prelates, and followed by a long train of mules, bearing coffers on their backs, covered with crimson cloths. He built Hampton Court Palace, and when it was completed and furnished to his taste, presented it to Henry.

All must allow, that, whatever may have been his defects, Wolsey was a liberal patron of literature and the arts. At Oxford he endowed seven lectureships, and founded the splendid College of Christ-Church, which still remains a monument of his munificence. He erected also a college at his native town of Ipswich.

Wolsey even aspired to the Papal dignity, but all his intrigues and lavish bribes were useless, for three times was he rejected by the Sacred College.

We will, for the present, leave the Cardinal at this high point of his splendour.

FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD.

This is the name accorded in history to the scene of the memorable meeting between Henry VIII. of England and Francis I. of France, which took place in a field between Ardres and Guisnes, and was held for the purpose of cementing a friendship between the two Monarchs. For several weeks one thousand workmen were employed to erect a

palace of framework, of a quadrangular form, four hundred yards square, containing a chapel, state apartments, and every accommodation. No expense was spared in its decoration; the ceilings were covered

with silk, and the walls with costly arras. Near Ardres a similar building was prepared for the French King, and, adjoining it, was a pavillion, supported by a mast, and entirely covered with cloth of gold.

An entire fortnight was consumed in feasts and maskings. The Kings and their attendants tilted with spears, and Francis was politic enough to allow the victory to remain with his vain and powerful neighbour.

Many persons ventured to express their displeasure at the useless expense attendant upon this deceptive meeting; and among them were the Duke of Buckingham, of whom we have something to say.

WOLSEY AND THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

The following circumstance illustrates the height to which the pride of the Cardinal had reached; and, setting all political considerations aside, we cannot wonder at Henry's anxiety to curb his arrogance.

Buckingham was holding a basin for the King to wash, when the Cardinal had the audacity to put his hands into the water. The Duke was so enraged that he emptied the contents of the basin over the proud churchman. Scowling at Buckingham, Wolsey promised "that he would sit on his skirts."

A day or two afterwards the Duke appeared at Court in a jerkin; and, on the King inquiring the reason, he repeated the threat of Wolsey, and said: "It was to prevent the Lord Cardinal from sitting on his skirts." But the Prelate did not forget the slight, and it was not long before Buckingham was brought to the block, on a charge of high treason, for practising sorcery against the King, A.D. 1521.

The Emperor of Germany, on hearing of Buckingham's tragical end, said: "Then has the butcher's dog brought down the finest buck in Christendom.”

THE CLOSING SCENES OF WOLSEY'S CAREER.

In 1530, the Cardinal, who was Lord Chancellor of the realm, resigned the seals of office, and at the same time sent in an inventory of all his possessions to the King.

His health rapidly declined, and the fear of losing one who had so long served his interest, awakened the latent friendship with which Henry regarded him. The royal physician was sent to visit the distinguished sufferer, and, on his return, the King inquired: "Have you seen yonder man?" "Yes," replied Dr. Butts; "and if you will have him dead, I warrant you he will be dead within four days, if he receive not comfort from you." Marry, God forbid," said Henry, "that he should die, for I would not lose him for twenty thousand pounds. I pray you go and do what you can for him." "Then must your Grace send him some comfortable message." "So I will," eagerly replied the King, "by you; therefore, make speed to him again, and deliver this ring from me as a token; he knoweth it well, for he gave me the same. Tell him that I am not offended at him in my heart, and bid him be of good comfort." On receiving the token Wolsey raised himself up in bed, and heartily thanked Dr. Butts for the good comfort he had brought him.