ItwillbeseenfromthismagnificentpassagethatMr。FroudeisdistinctlyaProtestant。Heisone，tojudgefromhisbook;andallthebetterone，becausehecansympathisewithwhatsoevernobleness，evenwithwhatsoevermereconservatism，existedintheCatholicparty。Andtherefore，becausehehassympathieswhicharenotmerelypartyones，buthumanones，hehasgiventheworld，inthesetwovolumes，ahistoryoftheearlyReformationaltogetherunequalled。
Thishumansympathy，whileithasenabledhimtoembalminmostaffectingprosethesadstoryofthenoblethoughmistakenCarthusians，andtomakeeventheNunofKentinteresting，becausetrulywomanly，inherveryfollyanddeceit，hasenabledhimlikewisetoshowustheheartsoftheearlymartyrsastheyneverhavebeenshownbefore。HissketchoftheChristianBrothers，andhislittletrueromanceofAnthonyDalaber，theOxfordstudent，aregemsofwriting;whilehisconceptionofLatimer，onwhomhelooksastheheroofthemovement，andallbutanEnglishLuther，isasworthyofLatimerasitisofhimself。Itiswrittenashistoryshouldbe，discriminatingly，patiently，andyetlovinglyandgenially;rejoicingnotinevil，butinthetruth;andrejoicingstillmoreingoodness，wheregoodnesscanhonestlybefound。
TotheecclesiasticalandpoliticalelementsintheEnglishReformationMr。Froudedevotesalargeportionofhisbook。Weshallnotenterintothequestionswhichhediscussestherein。Thataspectofthemovementisaforeignandadelicatesubject，fromdiscussingwhichaScotchperiodicalmaybeexcused。{2}NorthBritainhadasomewhatdifferentproblemtosolvefromhersouthernsister，andsolveditinanaltogetherdifferentway:butthiswemustsay，thatthefactsand，stillmore，theStatePapers（especiallythepetitionoftheCommons，ascontrastedwiththeutterlybenightedansweroftheBishops）whichMr。FroudegivesaresuchastoraiseouropinionofthemethodonwhichtheEnglishpartoftheReformationwasconducted，andmakeusbelievethatinthis，asinothermatters，bothHenryandhisParliament，thoughstilldoctrinalRomanists，weresound—headedpracticalEnglishmen。
ThisresultisofthesamekindasmostofthoseatwhichMr。Froudearrives。TheyformaltogetherageneraljustificationofourancestorsinHenrytheEighth'stime，ifnotofHenrytheEighthhimself，whichfreesMr。Froudefromthatchargeofirreverencetothepastgenerationsagainstwhichweprotestedinthebeginningofthearticle。Wehopehonestlythathemaybeassuccessfulinhisnextvolumesashehasbeeninthese，invindicatingtheworthiesofthesixteenthcentury。Whetherheshallfailornot，andwhetherornothehasaltogethersucceeded，inthevolumesbeforeus，hisbookmarksanewepoch，and，wetrust，ahealthierandloftierone，inEnglishhistory。Wetrustthattheyinaugurateatimeinwhichthedeedsofourforefathersshallbelookedonassacredheirlooms;
theirsinsasourshame，theirvictoriesasbequeststous;whenmenshallhavesufficientconfidenceinthosetowhomtheyowetheirexistencetoscrutinisefaithfullyandpatientlyeveryfactconcerningthem，withaproudtrustthat，searchastheymay，theywillnotfindmuchofwhichtobeashamed。
Lastly，Mr。FroudetakesaviewofHenry'scharacter，not，indeed，new（foritistheoriginalone），butobsoletefornowtwohundredyears。Letitbewellunderstoodthathemakesnoattempt（hehasbeenaccusedthereof）towhitewashHenry:allthathedoesistoremoveasfarashecanthemodernlayersof'black—wash，'andtoletthemanhimself，fairorfoul，beseen。Fortheresultheisnotresponsible:itdependsonfacts;andunlessMr。FroudehasknowinglyconcealedfactstoanamountofwhichevenaLingardmightbeashamed，theresultisthatHenrytheEighthwasactuallyverymuchthemanwhichheappearedtobetotheEnglishnationinhisowngeneration，andfortwoorthreegenerationsafterhisdeath——aresultwhichneednotastonishus，ifwewillonlygiveourancestorscreditforhavingatleastasmuchcommonsenseasourselves，andbelieve（whyshouldwenot？）that，onthewhole，theyunderstoodtheirownbusinessbetterthanwearelikelytodo。
'Thebloatedtyrant，'itisconfessed，contrivedsomehoworothertobepopularenough。Mr。Froudetellsusthereasons。Hewasnotbornabloatedtyrant，anymorethanQueenElizabeth（thoughthefactisnotgenerallyknown）wasbornawizenedoldwoman。Hewasfromyouth，tillhewaslongpasthisgrandclimacteric，averyhandsome，powerful，andactiveman，temperateinhishabits，good—humoured，frankandhonestinhisspeech（asevenhisenemiesareforcedtoconfess）。Heseemstohavebeen（ashisportraitsprovesufficiently），forgoodandforevil，athoroughJohnBull;athoroughEnglishman:butoneoftheveryhighesttype。
'Hadhedied（saysMr。Froude）previoustothefirstagitationofthedivorce，hislosswouldhavebeendeploredasoneoftheheaviestmisfortuneswhichhadeverbefallenthiscountry，andhewouldhaveleftanamewhichwouldhavetakenitsplaceinhistorybythesideoftheBlackPrinceortheConquerorofAgincourt。Leftatthemosttryingage，withhischaracterunformed，withthemeansofgratifyingeveryinclination，andmarriedbyhisministers，whenaboy，toanunattractivewomanfarhissenior，hehadlivedforthirty—sixyearsalmostwithoutblame，andborethroughEnglandthereputationofanuprightandvirtuousking。Naturehadbeenprodigaltohimofherrarestgifts……Ofhisintellectualabilitywearenotlefttojudgefromthesuspiciouspanegyricsofhiscontemporaries。HisStatePapersandlettersmaybeplacedbythesideofthoseofWolseyorofCromwell，andtheylosenothingbythecomparison。Thoughtheyarebroadlydifferent，theperceptionisequallyclear，theexpressionequallypowerful;andtheybreathethroughoutanirresistiblevigourofpurpose。Inadditiontothis，hehadafinemusicaltaste，carefullycultivated;hespokeandwroteinfourlanguages;andhisknowledgeofamultitudeofsubjects，withwhichhisversatileabilitymadehimconversant，wouldhaveformedthereputationofanyordinaryman。Hewasamongthebestphysiciansofhisage。Hewashisownengineer，inventingimprovementsinartilleryandnewconstructionsinshipbuilding;andthisnotwiththecondescendingincapacityofaroyalamateur，butwiththoroughworkmanlikeunderstanding。Hisreadingwasvast，especiallyintheology。Hewas'attentive，'asitiscalled，'tohisreligiousduties，'beingpresentattheservicesinchapeltwoorthreetimesadaywithunfailingregularity，andshowing，tooutwardappearance，arealsenseofreligiousobligationintheenergyandpurityofhislife。Inprivatehewasgood—humouredandgood—natured。Hisletterstohissecretaries，thoughneverundignified，aresimple，easy，andunrestrained，andtheletterswrittenbythemtohimaresimilarlyplainandbusiness—like，asifthewritersknewthatthepersonwhomtheywereaddressingdislikedcompliments，andchosetobetreatedasaman。Heseemstohavebeenalwayskind，alwaysconsiderate;
inquiringintotheirprivateconcernswithgenuineinterest，andwinning，asaconsequence，theirsincereandunaffectedattachment。
Asarulerhehadbeeneminentlypopular。Allhiswarshadbeensuccessful。HehadthesplendidtastesinwhichtheEnglishpeoplemostdelighted;……hehadmorethanoncebeentriedwithinsurrection，whichhehadsootheddownwithoutbloodshed，andextinguishedinforgiveness……Anditiscertainthatifhehaddiedbeforethedivorcewasmooted，HenryVIII。，liketheRomanemperorsaidbyTacitustohavebeencensensuomniumdignusimperiinisiimperasset，wouldhavebeenconsideredbyposterityasformedbyProvidencefortheconductoftheReformation，andhislosswouldhavebeendeploredasaperpetualcalamity。'
Mr。Froudehas，ofcourse，notwrittenthesewordswithouthavingfactswherebytoprovethem。OnehegivesinanimportantnotecontaininganextractfromaletteroftheVenetianAmbassadorin1515。Atleast，ifhisconclusionsbecorrect，wemustthinktwiceerewedenyhisassertionthat'themanbestableofalllivingEnglishmentogovernEnglandhadbeensettodoitbytheconditionsofhisbirth。'
'Wearebound，'asMr。Froudesays，'toallowhimthebenefitofhispastcareer，andbecarefultorememberitininterpretinghislateractions。''Thetruedefectinhismoralconstitution，that"intenseandimperiouswill"commontoallprincesofthePlantagenetblood，hadnotyetbeentested。'Thathedid，inhislateryears，actinmanywaysneitherwiselynorwell，noonedenies;thathisconductdidnotalienatetheheartsofhissubjectsiswhatneedsexplanation;andMr。Froude'sopinionsonthismatter，novelastheyare，andutterlyopposedtothatofthestandardmodernhistorians，requirecarefulexamination。NowIamnotinclinedtodebateHenrytheEighth'scharacter，oranyothersubject，asbetweenMr。Froudeandanauthoroftheobscurantistorpseudo—conservativeschool。Mr。
FroudeisLiberal;andsoamI。IwishtolookatthequestionasbetweenMr。FroudeandotherLiberals;andtherefore，ofcourse，first，asbetweenMr。FroudeandMr。Hallam。
Mr。Hallam'snameissovenerableandhisworksoImportant，thattosetourselvesupasjudgesinthisorinanymatterbetweenhimandMr。Froudewouldbemereimpertinence:butspeakingmerelyaslearners，wehavesurelyarighttoinquirewhyMr。HallamhasenteredonthewholequestionofHenry'srelationstohisParliamentwithapraejudiciumagainstthem;forwhichMr。Froudefindsnogroundwhatsoeverinfact。WhyareallactsbothofHenryandhisParliamenttobetakeninmalampartem？TheywerenotWhigs，certainly:neitherwereSocratesandPlato，norevenSt。PaulandSt。John。Theymayhavebeenhonestmenasmengo，ortheymaynot:
butwhyistheretobeafeelingagainstthemratherthanforthem？
WhyisHenryalwayscalledatyrant，andhisParliamentservile？Theepithetshavebecomesocommonandunquestionedthatourinterrogationmayseemstartling。Stillwemakeit。WhywasHenryatyrant？Thatmaybetrue，butmustbeprovedbyfacts。Wherearethey？Isthemerefactofamonarch'saskingformoneyacrimeinhimandhisministers？Thequestionwouldratherseemtobe，WerethemoneysforwhichHenryaskedneededorno;and，whengranted，weretheyrightlyorwronglyapplied？Andonthesesubjectswewantmuchmoreinformationthanweobtainfromanyepithets。Theauthorofaconstitutionalhistoryshouldriseaboveepithets:or，ifheusesthem，shouldcorroboratethembyfacts。WhyshouldnothistoriansbeasfairandascautiousinaccusingHenryandWolseyastheywouldbeinaccusingQueenVictoriaandLordPalmerston？Whatright，allowustoask，hasagraveconstitutionalhistoriantosaythat'Wecannot，indeed，doubtthattheunshackledanddespoticconditionofhisfriend，FrancisI。，affordedamortifyingcontrasttoHenry？WhatdocumentexistsinwhichHenryisrepresentedasregrettingthatheisthekingofafreepeople？——forsuchMr。Hallamconfesses，justabove，Englandwasheldtobe，andwasactuallyincomparisonwithFrance。Ifthedocumentdoesnotexist，Mr。Hallamhassurelysteppedoutofthefieldofthehistorianintothatofthenovelist，alaScottorDumas。TheParliamentsometimesgrantsHenry'sdemands:sometimesitrefusesthem，andhehastohelphimselfbyothermeans。Whyarebothcasestobeinterpretedinmalampartem？WhyistheParliament'sgrantingtobealwaysaproofofitsservility？——itsrefusingalwaysaproofofHenry'styrannyandrapacity？Bothviewsaremerepraejudicia，reasonableperhaps，andpossible:butwhyisnotapraejudiciumoftheoppositekindasrationalandaspossible？Whyhasnotahistorianarighttostart，asMr。Froudedoes，bytakingforgrantedthatbothpartiesmayhavebeenonthewholeright;thattheParliamentgrantedcertainsumsbecauseHenrywasrightinaskingforthem;refusedothersbecauseHenrywaswrong;eventhat，insomecases，Henrymayhavebeenrightinasking，theParliamentwronginrefusing;andthatinsuchacase，underthepressureofcriticaltimes，Henrywasforcedtogetashecouldthemoneywhichhesawthatthenationalcauserequired？Letitbeasfolkswill。LetHenrybesometimesright，andtheParliamentsometimeslikewise;ortheParliamentalwaysright，orHenryalwaysright;oranythingelse，savethisstrangediseasedtheorythatbothmusthavebeenalwayswrong，andthat，evidencetothateffectfailing，motivesmustbeinsinuated，oropenlyasserted，fromthewriter'smereimagination。Thismaybeadream:butitisaseasytoimagineastheother，andmorepleasantalso。Itwillprobablybeanswered（thoughnotbyMr。Hallamhimself）byasneer:
'Youdonotseemtoknowmuchoftheworld，sir。'ButsowouldFigaroandGilBlashavesaid，andonexactlythesamegrounds。
LetusexamineastockinstanceofHenry's'rapacity'andhisParliament'sservility，namely，theexactionsin1524and1525，andthesubsequent'releaseoftheKing'sdebts。'Whatarethefactsofthecase？FranceandScotlandhadattackedEnglandin1514。TheScotchwerebeatenatFlodden。TheFrenchlostTournayandTherouenne，and，whenpeacewasmade，agreedtopaytheexpensesofthewar。Timeschanged，andtheexpenseswerenotpaid。
Asimilarwararosein1524，andcostEnglandimmensesums。AlargearmywasmaintainedontheScotchBorder，anotherarmyinvadedFrance;andWolsey，notventuringtocallaParliament，——becausehewas，asPope'slegate，liabletoapraemunire，——raisedmoneybycontributionsandbenevolences，whichwerelevied，itseemsonthewhole，uniformlyandequally（savethattheyweighedmoreheavilyontherichthanonthepoor，ifthatbeafault），anddifferedfromtaxesonlyinnothavingreceivedtheconsentofParliament。
Doubtless，thiswasnotthebestwayofraisingmoney:butwhatif，underthecircumstances，itweretheonlyone？Whatif，too，onthewhole，themoneysoraisedwasreallygivenwillinglybythenation？
Thesequelalonecoulddecidethat。
ThefirstcontributionforwhichWolseyaskedwaspaid。Thesecondwasresisted，andwasnotpaid;provingtherebythatthenationneednotpayunlessitchose。Thecourtgaveway;andthewarbecamedefensiveonlytill1525。
Thenthetideturned。Thedanger，then，wasnotfromFrancis，butfromtheEmperor。FranciswastakenprisoneratPavia;andshortlyafterRomewassackedbyBourbon。
TheeffectofallthisinEnglandistoldatlargeinMr。Froude'ssecondchapter。HenrybecamebondforFrancis'sransom，tobepaidtotheEmperor。Hespent500，000crownsmoreinpayingtheFrencharmy;andinthetermsofpeacemadewithFrance，asum—totalwasagreedonforthewholedebt，oldandnew，tobepaidassoonaspossible;andanannualpensionof500，000crownsbesides。TheFrenchexchequer，however，stillremainedbankrupt，andagainthemoneywasnotpaid。
Parliament，whenitmetin1529，reviewedthecircumstancesoftheexpenditure，andfindingitallsuchasthenationonthewholeapproved，legalisedthetaxationbybenevolencesretrospectively:
andthisisthewholemare'snestofthefirstpaymentofHenry'sdebts;if，atleast，anyfaithistobeputinthepreambleoftheActforthereleaseoftheKing'sDebts，21Hen。VIII。c。24。'TheKing'slovingsubjects，theLordsSpiritualandTemporal，andCommons，inthispresentParliamentassembled，callingtoremembrancetheinestimablecosts，charges，andexpenseswhichtheKing'sHighnesshathnecessarilybeencompelledtosupportandsustainsincehisassumptiontohiscrown，estate，anddignityroyal，aswellfortheextinctionofarightdangerousanddamnableschism，sprungintheChurch，asforthemodifyingtheinsatiableandinordinateambitionofthemwho，whileaspiringtothemonarchyofChristendom，didputuniversaltroublesanddivisionsinthesame，intending，iftheymight，notonlytohavesubduedthisrealm，butalsoalltherest，untotheirpowerandsubjection——forresistancewhereoftheKing'sHighnesswascompelledtomarvellouscharges——bothforthesupportationofsundryarmiesbyseaandland，andalsofordiversandmanifoldcontributiononhand，tosaveandkeephisownsubjectsathomeinrestandrepose——whichhathbeensopoliticallyhandledthat，whenthemostpartofallChristianlandshavebeeninfestedwithcruelwars，thegreatHeadandPrinceoftheworld（thePope）
broughtintocaptivity，citiesandtownstaken，spoiled，burnt，andsacked——theKing'ssaidsubjectsinallthistime，bythehighprovidenceandpoliticmeansofhisGrace，havebeenneverthelesspreserved，defended，andmaintainedfromalltheseinconvenients，etc。
'Considering，furthermore，thathisHighness，inandaboutthepremises，hathbeenfaintoemploynotonlyallsuchsumsofmoneyashathrisenorgrownbycontributionsmadeuntohisGracebyhislovingsubjects——butalso，overandabovethesame，sundryothernotableandexcellentsumsofhisowntreasureandyearlyrevenues，amongwhichmanifoldgreatsumssoemployed，hisHighnessalso，asisnotoriouslyknown，andasdothevidentlyappearbytheACCOUNTSOF
THESAME，hathtothatuse，andnoneother，convertedallsuchmoneyasbyanyofhissubjectshathbeenadvancedtohisGracebywayofprestorloan，eitherparticularly，orbyanytaxationmadeofthesame——beingthingssowellcollocateandbestowed，seeingthesaidhighandgreatfruitsandeffectsthereofinsuredtothesuretyandcommodityandtranquillityofthisrealm——ofourmindandconsent，dofreely，absolutely，giveandgranttotheKing'sHighnessallandeverysumorsumsofmoney，'etc。
ThesecondreleaseoftheKing'sdebts，in1544，isverysimilar。
TheKing'sdebtsandnecessitieswerereally，whenwecometoexaminethem，thoseofthenation:in1538—40Englandwasputintoathoroughstateofdefencefromendtoend。FortresseswerebuiltalongtheScottishBorder，andallalongthecoastoppositeFranceandFlanders。Thepeopleweredrilledandarmed，thefleetequipped;
andthenation，forthetime，becameonegreatarmy。Andnothingbutthis，asmaybeprovedbyanoverwhelmingmassofevidence，savedthecountryfrominvasion。Herewereenormousnecessaryexpenseswhichmustbemet。
In1543amillioncrownsweretohavebeenpaidbyFrancistheFirstaspartofhisolddebt。Itwasnotpaid:but，onthecontrary，Henryhadtogotowarforit。Thenationagainrelinquishedtheirclaim，andallowedHenrytoraiseanotherbenevolencein1545，concerningwhichMr。Hallamtellsusagreatdeal，butnotonewordofthepoliticalcircumstanceswhichledtoitortotherelease，keepinghissympathiesandhispaperforthesorrowsofrefractoryAldermanReed，who，refusing（aloneofallthecitizens）tocontributetothesupportoftroopsontheScotchBorderorelsewhere，wassentdown，byasortofroughjustice，toserveontheScotchBorderhimself，andjudgeofthe'perilsofthenation'withhisowneyes;andbeing——oneispleasedtohear——takenprisonerbytheScots，hadtopayagreatdealmoreasransomthanhewouldhavepaidasbenevolence。
Buttoreturn。Whatproofisthere，inallthis，ofthatservilitywhichmosthistorians，andMr。Hallamamongtherest，arewonttoattributetoHenry'sParliaments？Whatfeelingappearsonthefaceofthisdocument，whichwehavegivenandquoted，butonehonourabletothenation？ThroughthefalsehoodofaforeignnationtheKingisunabletoperformhisengagementstothepeople。Isnotthejustandgenerouscourseinsuchacasetoreleasehimfromthoseengagements？