cerned about the affairs of religion; he had, indeed, a good deal of what is called learning on these matters; but religious learning is a very different thing from true religious faith and practice. The king wrote some books on the disputes of that day between the Catholics and Protestants. He had, some time before this, written a book in defence of the seven Sacraments, for the Catholics say there are seven Sacraments; we Protestants say, that there are only two, namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and we say this, because we do not find any thing in Scripture which justifies us in saying that there are any more Sacraments than these two. Henry, however, pleased the pope by defending the sevent sacraments, and gained the title of "Defender of the Faith," which was indeed a good title in itself, and has been kept by the kings of England ever since; there was, however, nobody who ever deserved it less than Henry the Eighth. About a year after the death of the late queen, Henry married another wife, Catherine Parr, a widow; she was a discreet and pious woman, and studied, by her gentle behaviour, to calm the savage temper of the king. This, however, was beyond her power; and at one time she was in great danger of losing her own life, in consequence of some difference with the king on religious subjects. However, she managed to pacify him on this point but his savage temper broke out towards his subjects; and many excellent and worthy people were put to death by him. As his end approached, the pains of his body seemed to increase the violence of his temper. He had a painful disorder in his legs, which, growing worse and worse, at length carried him off, in the year 1547. There is a great deal of very interesting matter in this reign; but I only attempt to give you a few heads of the History of England; and you may, perhaps, when you have leisure and opportunity, read more fully for yourself, on this subject. I am your affectionate father. QUESTIONS. In what year did Henry VIII. begin to reign? What great change was made in the state of religion during his reign? What is meant by the Reformation ? Who was considered as at the head of the Church before the Reformation? Where does the pope live? In what language were the Bibles and Prayer-Books written, before the Reformation? Was the art of printing books known in the reign of Henry VIII. ? Had it been long known? Who was the first person that printed a book in England? Had not the art of printing a great effect in leading the minds of the people to right thinking? How were books made before printing was known? Were they then very scarce and dear, and difficult to come at? Was Henry a real and steady friend to the Reformation? Was the Reformation completed in Henry's time, or only begun ? Who was Henry's chief minister and adviser? What was Wolsey's character ? Who was Henry's first wife? When the king wished to get rid of his first wife would Cardinal Wolsey encourage and assist him in this plan? How did the king then treat Wolsey? Can you tell me where Wolsey died, and can you relate the circumstances of his death? What plea did the king make for getting rid of his wife? Had they a daughter, and what was her name? and what was she afterwards? Whom did the king wish to marry? Was Anna Bullen a Papist or a Protestant? Had Anna Bullen any child? What was its name, and what did it afterwards become? What was her fate? Whom did the king next marry? How did the king treat the Protestants and the Papists ? What was its name? and who was it afterwards? What was the end of this queen ? After her death, did the king seek for another wife? What was her appearance? Who had painted her picture for the king to see before he married her? Was the picture like her? Was the king, at that time, attached to another person? But how many do we Protestants say that "Christ ordained in his Church?" Did king Henry pretend to be skilled in explaining religious matters? Did he write a book on the subject of the Sacraments? Did he take the Popish or the Protestant side in this question? Did the king's book please the pope ? What title did the pope then confer on the king? Have the kings of England kept that title ever since? Did the king marry another wife? What was her name? What became of Catherine Howard? After the execution of Catherine Howard, did Henry marry another wife? What was her name? Was she a good queen? Did Catherine Parr outlive the king? In what year did this king die? LETTER XIX. MY DEAR BOY, I TOLD you that Henry the Eighth left behind him two daughters and a son. The daughters were Mary and Elizabeth, and they both, afterwards, became queens; but the son reigned before either of his sisters. This son was Edward the Sixth. He was no more than nine years old when his father died, and he only lived till he was sixteen. He was a prince of excellent qualities, seeming to find all his pleasure in the pursuit of what was good. He was a good scholar; and, what was much better still, he studied to cultivate a |