SPECIMENS, &c.

Edward VI.

VOL. II.

B

SPECIMENS, &c.

EDWARD VI.

THE reign of Edward VI. is remarkable for

the establishment of the reformation. This great event, so beneficial to the interests of humanity, served only to clog the progress of elegant literature, and to postpone the reign of taste. The objects of study were now entirely changed. The breaking up of the old religion split the world into a variety of different and hostile sects. The bible being open to the people, every man, whether learned or unlearned, was eager to familiarise himself with its contents, and ambitious of commenting and illustrating it. All were absorbed in religious speculations. Europe exhibited but one

OF

English Prose-Writers,

FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE CLOSE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY,

WITH

SKETCHES BIOGRAPHICAL AND LITERARY,

INCLUDING

AN ACCOUNT OF BOOKS

AS WELL AS OF THEIR AUTHORS;

WITH

OCCASIONAL CRITICISMS, &c.

BY GEORGE BURNETT,
Late of Baliol College, Oxford.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME,