duced by their too great security and confidence. The very existence of Popery is a great evil, principally to its professors, but also to the world at large; permitted indeed by the allwise Master of the Universe, but to which we ought not to be indifferent. As the influence of Popery is decidedly hostile to Christianity, it behoves us carefully to observe every indication of its increased activity and success. The deadly wound has been inflicted, and it only languishes out the remainder of a dying life. The Church of Rome, like the house of Saul, shall become weaker and weaker, and the Christian Church, like the house of David, shall become stronger and stronger, until Christ himself ascend his throne, and possess the undivided empire of the world. Yet, as the last convulsive struggles of Leviathan are still formidable and dangerous, let us not be off our guard; and as the adherents of Abner long withstood the righteous claims of David, it behoves us still to watch, not knowing but there may be many a battle yet to fight ere the crowning victory be won. The only atmosphere in which Popery can exist in activity and enjoyment, is composed of uninquiring ignorance, and a passive subjection to human authority; the infusion of any uncongenial element is disease, torpor, and death. But, a system is in operation, daily unfolding its parts and widening its range, which will gradually purify this atmosphere, and eventually abolish every vestige of superstition. The basis of this system is knowledge, and its operation is threefold-by general education—by the free and universal circulation of the Holy Scriptures—and by the preaching of the Gospel to every creature. When the people were utterly untaught, when the Bible was locked up, and the preaching of the Gospel prohibited, then was the empire of Popery most extensive and secure; and could the Popes have rendered all this perpetual, their power would have remained unshaken; but "He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness," caused some particles to enter that chaos of intellect and sentiment, and thus gave being to the great Reformation.

If such were the effects of knowledge when Rome was in all

poseessing the vantage ground, acquiring new strength at every step, and emitting, in every direction, the rays of intellectual, moral, and divine light? Formerly, education was a privilege extending very little beyond the Clergy. There was, at that time, as little idea of instructing the great body of the people, as we should now entertain of imparting knowledge to the brute creation. Of those who, by comparison, might be called learned, very few indeed had made considerable acquirements; and even among the Priesthood, he who could translate the language of his Breviary, and understand the meaning of the words he pronounced while conducting the public service, was a Clergyman of distinction. A man who could read Latin, was, in some capital cases, exempted by benefit of Clergy from the punishment of death. Here and there, a bright star shone conspicuous amid the surrounding gloom; but whenever a man of genius and true learning appeared, it was something so extraordinary and `unaccountable, as immediately to excite the suspicion of magical arts, and a compact with Satan.

The Reformation, in connection with the revival of letters, and the invention of printing, produced a considerable change. It soon became necessary, that they who called themselves teachers should at least know something; and when learning opened the way to honour and emolument, many learned men appeared. The rubbish and cobwebs which accumulated in the schools, with the ridiculous jargon of the Dialecticians, which for ages had been substituted for knowledge, were all swept off and abolished. The principles of a sound philosophy were laid as the foundation of a new intellectual structure; and the building was replenished from the rich, though long neglected, stores of literature. Still, however, education was the privilege of rank and office, and learning was confined to the few. It remained for the present generation, to scatter the seeds of knowledge with liberal hand, on the broad surface of the common people. Never, in the whole history of man, were the blessings of instruction so extensively and indiscriminately enjoyed, as at the present moment; and this produces an amazing acceleration of the human mind, so that he who formerly would have been quoted as in the foremost rank,

is now considered as having merely escaped from ignorance. These things, however, are not confined to Great Britain. On the Continent of Europe, in America, and "the isles afar off upon the sea," the high advantages of general education are already appreciated, and will gradually be enjoyed.

When the Apostolic Latimer accompanied to the stake his fellow martyr Ridley, he exclaimed, "We shall this day light such a candle in England, as, by God's grace, shall never be put out." The event verifies the prediction; and we live to enjoy its fulfilment.

CHAPTER XVI.

ADRIAN VI.

FROM the contemplation of the interesting events recorded in the former part of this volume, we now turn to the general details of our History.

Few elections of the supreme Pontiff were ever so strongly contested, as that which ended in the elevation of Adrian VI. as the successor of Leo. X. The struggle in the Conclave lasted fourteen days. The Cardinals entered their temporary prison in two great factions, the Imperial and the French, who contended with each other to have a Pope that would be most pliable to the interest of his Electors. The first person proposed for the dignity was the Cardinal Medici. A part of the Imperial Cardinals favoured him, but the rest joining with the French side firmly against him, his appointment was resolutely negatived. Two Cardinals, whom de Medici supported, because he could have governed them, shared the same fate:

other names were voted upon, that were more unbiassed in their politics, but these were also rejected, when the Cardinal Farnese thought he could have carried the triumph; he had eighteen voices immediately, but Colonna turned the scale against him; he struggled on, and reached to twenty-two votes, but could not get beyond that number; and, at every succeeding scrutiny, his supporters were found to lessen, till he became hopeless and withdrew. It was at this period that Wolsey was proposed by his friends, as an indifferent and very fit person; he stood three divisions of the Conclave. On the first he only had nine votes, on the second he had twelve, and on the third a still larger number, but less than twenty, beyond this he could not advance. Three objections were made to him, 1st, he was too young; 2dly, he would adhere to truth, execute justice firmly, would repress the licentiousness of the Roman Court, and, therefore, his discipline was to be dreaded. 3dly, He was not supposed to be very favourable to the Emperor. Others suggested, that if chosen he would make England, not Rome, the seat of his Pontificate. The protracted sessions of this venerated body were distinguished and disgraced by the most violent altercations. Ten times they proceeded to ballot, and as often the inspections shewed that the negations prevailed against all that were proposed. At length a part of the Imperialists suddenly proposed Adrian, the Cardinal of Tortosa, and fifteen voices appeared in his favour; these were too few to avail; but, on being again proposed, four more of the Medicean band added their support. This accession led others to suspect that there was secret bias acting on his side, and several who had voted for others, in order to get thanks by their timely coming in, suddenly added their votes, so that when the eleventh scrutiny took place, twenty-six voices were found to have declared for him. Instantly the determining words were uttered, "Papam habemus," we have a Pope; for this number formed the requisite quantity out of the thirty-eight who were present. The French faction were astonished at the event, but it was now unalterable, and, submitting to the necessity, they joined in the acclamation, no one having expected, when the last scru

tiny began, that Adrian could have the least chance of success. Thus to their own amazement and that of all Europe, a stranger to Italy, unknown to the persons who gave their suffrages in his favour, and unacquainted with the manners of the people, or the interest of the state, the government of which they conferred upon him, was unanimously raised to the Papal throne, at a juncture so delicate and critical, as would have demanded all the sagacity and experience of one of the most able Prelates in the Sacred College. The Cardinals themselves, unable to give a reason for this strange choice, on account of which, as they marched in procession from the Conclave, they were loaded with insults and curses by the Roman people, ascribed it to an immediate impulse of the Holy Ghost. It may be imputed, with greater certainty, to the influence of Don John Manual, the Imperial Ambassador, who, by his address and intrigues, facilitated the election of a person devoted to his master's service from gratitude, from interest, and from inclination.

Besides the influence which Charles acquired by Adrian's promotion, it threw great lustre on his administration. To bestow on his perceptor such a noble recompense, and to place. on the Papal throne one whom he had raised from obscurity, were acts of uncommon magnificence and power.

It was on the 9th of January, 1522, that this election was thus decided, after the Cardinals had endured a series of privations, which the English Ambassador described with minute fidelity for the amusement of his King, and for the instruction of the Prime Minister. Adrian was a man who, till this event, had been unknown at Rome, and who had not been spoken of,* but who had been the Tutor of Charles, and was, at that

* Adrian was born at Utrecht, of mean parents. He was made Dean of St. Peter's, at Louvain, and afterwards Provost at Utrecht. Being appointed tutor to Prince Charles of Austria, King Ferdinand made him Bishop of Tortosa, and through Leo X. he attained to the Cardinal's hat. Upon his exaltation to the Papacy, the people of Utrecht and Holland shewed so much joy, that they wrote upon the tapestry hangings, and walls of their houses, "Utrecht has planted, Louvain watered, and the Emperor given the increase." Under which an arch fellow wrote, "God has done nothing at all in this matter."