THE CHARACTER OF HENRY VIII.

THE most careless observer cannot be blind to the fact that the present time is an age of great and startling discovery, and rapid advance in the pursuit of truth. Even those sciences, which like logic, metaphysics, and mathematics, had attained some measure of completeness a century ago, are now pursued with greater vigour and more success; while others have started into being, or been changed from a few hasty and uncertain generalizations to the assured certainty of deductive truth. Consider for instance the progress in physiology, botany, and in short all natural science. Geology and chemistry cannot be said to have even had any existence; it is only within the last two or three years that Tyndall has laid a sure foundation for the science of thermotics, while comparative philology and social statics are as yet but in their infancy, and promise large results. And I dare not even except theology from the list of those branches of human knowledge, in which the progress of the years is leading us to purer, wider and nobler views.

"For I doubt not thro' the ages one unceasing purpose runs, And the thoughts of men are widened with the process of

the suns.

Why then is history to be the only exception to this law of universal advance? Since our knowledge of the present and the future is ever increasing, why should we not be able to survey with a truer appreciation and a livelier interest the events of the past? I venture to assert that history too has had its share of triumphs and success. Within the last few years Niebuhr, Arnold, Mommsen and Merivale have altered the whole aspect of the history of Rome, while Thirlwall and Grote have revolutionised our ideas on the affairs of Greece.

In English history it is the same; Mr. Hepworth Dixon, and his yet more able successor Mr. Spedding, have scattered for ever the cloud of infamy that hung over the fair fame of

VOL. V.

one of England's twin-giants, the illustrious Bacon; while Mr. Carlyle has won tardy justice for the memory of one of her greatest rulers. These and many similar examples which will readily recur to every one are abundantly sufficient to show how difficult it is to reach the pure historic fact; and how for centuries a slanderous lie may pass current, till it withers beneath the touch of the Ithuriel spear of honest criticism. It is indeed no easy matter to enter fairly into the spirit of a by-gone age, so as to judge with discernment of the motives of the actors in it. To quote the words of an able historian: "As the old man forgets his childhood, as the grown man and the youth rarely comprehend each other, as the Englishman and the Frenchman, with the same reasoning faculties do not reason to the same conclusions-so is the past a perplexity to the present; it lies behind us as an enigma, easy only to the vain and unthinking, and only half solved after the most earnest efforts of intellectual sympathy alike in those who read and those who write." But when the truth has been at last discovered, it is our bounden duty to accept it readily, despite all previous prejudices. Is truth the less true, because it has been long concealed? I am well aware that in maintaining that view of the character of Henry VIII., which I defend in this essay, I shall have to contend against a large amount of prejudice. Every one has some knowledge of the period of English history which I propose to glance at now, and has formed his opinion upon the character of the ruler who played so distinguished a part in it. I suppose that Hume represents the idea that most persons have of the character of Henry VIII., when he describes him as follows:-"A catalogue of his vices would comprehend many of the worst qualities incident to human nature; violence, cruelty, profusion, rapacity, injustice, obstinacy, arrogance, bigotry, presumption, caprice; but neither was he subject to all these vices in the most extreme degree, nor was he at intervals altogether destitute of virtue. It may seem a little extraordinary, that notwithstanding his cruelty, his extortion, his violence, his arbitrary administration, this prince not only acquired the regard of his subjects, but never was the object of their hatred: he seems even in some degree to have possessed to the last their love and their affection." A little extraordinary! does he say? Why, if this picture of his character be the true one, the whole history of his reign appears to me one of the most mysterious problems in the annals of mankind! I can safely defy Hume's followers to produce one single instance of such