Printed for T. DAVIES, in Ruffel-street; BECKET and MDCCLXXI. HENRY the eighth was fucceeded on the throne by his only fon Edward the fixth, now in the ninth year of his age. The late king in his will, which he expected would be abfolutely obeyed, fixed the majority of the prince at the completion of his eighteenth year; and in the mean time appointed fixteen executors of his will, to whom, during the miniority, he VOL. III. entrufted B entrusted the government of the king and kingdom. But the vanity of his aims was foon discovered; for the firft act of the execu-. tors was to chufe the earl of Hertford, who was afterwards made duke of Somerset, as protector of the realm, and in him was lodged all the regal power, together with a privilege of naming whom he would for his privy council. This was a favourable feafon for thofe of the reformed religion; and the eyes of the late king were no fooner closed, than all of that persuasion congratulated themfelves on the event. They no longer fuppreffed their fentiments, but maintained their doctrines openly, in preaching and teaching, even while the laws against them continued in full force. The protector had long been regarded as the fecret partizan of the reformers; and, being now freed from restraint, he fcrupled not to express his intention of correcting all the abuses of the ancient religion, and of adopting ftill more the doctrines propagated by Luther. His power was not a little strengthened by his fuccefs against an incurfion of the Scotch, in which about eight hundred of their army were flain; and the popularity which he gained upon this occafion, feconded his views in the further pro I pagation pagation of the new doctrines. But the character of Somerset did not ftand in need of the mean supports of popularity acquired in this manner, as he was naturally humble, civil, affable, and courteous to the meaneft fuitor, while all his actions were directed by motives of piety and honour. The protector, in his fchemes for advancing the reformation, had always recourfe to the counfels of Cranmer, who, being a man of moderation and prudence, was averfe to violent changes, and determined to bring over the people by infenfible innovations to his own peculiar fyftem. The perfon who oppofed with the greatest authority any farther advances towards reformation, was Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, who, though he had not obtained a place at the council-board, yet from his age, experience, and capacity, was regarded by moft men with some degree of veneration. Upon a general vifitation of the church, which had been commanded by the primate and protector, Gardiner defended the ufe of images, which was now very openly attacked by the proteftants; he even wrote an apology for holy water; but he particularly alleged, that it was unlawful to make any change in religion during the king's mi |