The Portland daily press., 1877-11-17
English Literature.

lecture was 1.-THE Reformation, the Tudors, Sill
Thomas More and Lord BacoD." In com
mencing the speaker said that although one
might Think that the topic was divided into
four parts, it was in fact divided into but two,
OF which The Reformation. the Tudors and Sir
Thomas More was one and Lord Bacon the
other. The Reformers had their origin GEN.
fury before the Tudors came into power in
1855, on the accession of Henry VII to the
throne. The first of this ilustrious house was
essentially man of peace and also of excess
siVe avarice. He devoted himself to the rails
Ing OF money from his subjects in very unjust
| manner. He took but little interest, if any, in
! learning. He wished, to marry his children
well and Arthur was wed to Cathrine, but when
Arthur died Prince Henry, his brother, mar
ried his widow. Margaret married the King
OF Scotland. She was an ancestor of Mary,
Queen of Scots. Another daughter was wed to
the King of France. Henry VII was buried
| in the chapel in Westminster Abbey. His
SOB, Henry VIII, succeeded him, taking the
throne at the age of eighteen years. He was a
young man of good character. and of great
piety and gave promise of very successful
reign. Upon their marriage Catharine was
crowned Queen of England, Cardinal Woolsey
then being lord high chancellor. AT this time
the Pope was agitating the matter of building
the church OF st Peters. The monk, Luther,
objected to raising money for this purpose by
the sale of indulgeueies. Luther held that this
was wrong, as no man had power to forgive
sin. The church naturally became hostile to
him on this account and he was driven out of
the country. The King was much exercised in
regard to the matter and wrote a tract defend
ing the Pope. On receiving copy of itIthe
Pope styled him defender of the Faith
Tyndale who appeared at this time declared
that it was the right of all to read the Bible for
themselves, while the King claimed that it
should not be read by the common classes, but
should be left to the monks to interpret
Luther of course Joined Tyndale and claimed
every man n, should think for himself: Tyndale
ment SO that the lower classes could read it,
but the King hearing of it sent spies to catch
him in the wJrk. He was arrested and tried
in Flanders and there burned at the stake
simply for translating the New Testament.
Before his death, however, much of the work
was accomplished and his translation had
wonderful effect in after years. For long
period the religious excitement was the only
thing which transpired of interest In fact
people were too much taken up with this to at
tend to other affairs. Bacon and More were
the only writer's of any account There was a
serious detection in the Catholic church, for
there were two classes, the Catholic and those
who afterwards became Protestants. All this
resulted from Luthers objections to the sale of
lndulgencles This was the start of the Prot
estant church.
Henry VII planned for great dover for his
daughter Margaret. who was to marry the King
of Scotland. When it was proposed, young
man but Il years OF age opposed it, saying that
England could not afford the money. This
man was Sir Thomas More, who had just
gained his seat in the House of Commons
when be took this position against the King
The result was that he was at once retired and
never after gained the good will of Henry VII.
Although this was considered an unwise
thing for him to do by his friends, he was con-
tnually doing just such things, and at last
they cost him his life.
When he retired from his seat in the House
of Commons he wrote the lives of Edward
V. and Richard III. Henry VIII.
saw this book and asked to see the author. He
was much pleased with him and asked him to
go as an ambassador to Charles V. of Ger
many. While on this mission More wrote that
wonderful book, Utopia, which has attracted so
much attention. In it are considered the ques-
lions Of capital and labor, education, govern
ment, religious tolerance, and other matters of
vital interest to-day. The book was a descrip-
ton OF place in South America, and being
published just after the discovery Of this coun-
try, was generally believed to be true, whereas
it was all imaginary. Extracts from this book
were read, much to the delight of the audience
The king was much pleased with the result
OF his visit to Flanders, and asked him to con-
tinue in the service of the court but he declined
and soon became Speaker of the House of
Commons. He afterwards accepted position
under the king and when Wolsey was deposed
he was made Lord High Chancellor After the
king had been married seventeen years he be-
came troubled about his marriage to his broth
ers wife, as it had been necessary to obtain a
special dispensatlon from the Pope before the
marriage could take place. He asked the Pope
to grant divorce, but this he refused to do.
The king askedWolsey to assist in influencing
ed to succeed the Pope and SO refused to assist.
In the meantime it became apparent that the
king was in love with his wife's maid of honor.
Anne Boleyn. and that he wished to be divorced |
from his wife to wed her. Wolsey having re-
fused utterly to help obtain a divorce, he was
deposed. Henry asked Sir Thomas More in re- |
gard to the divorce bnt could receive no encour-
agement from him. Afterwards, however, he i
was called to succeed Wolsey.
More resigned his position in three years and |
soon after the king becoming enraged at the
Pope, issued his Act of Supremacy" and all |
were asked to take the oath, swearing their al
legance to none other than the King. More
refused and was executed. Margaret his daugh- |
ter, met him on the way to the execution and |
was displayed on London bridge. AT night
Margaret took boat and rowed to the bridge
rescued the head of her father and carried it |
home. Henry's action in defyng the Pope gave
the work OF the Reformation new start. He |
published list of laws of religion which he |
promulgated and from them arose the Episco- |
pal church doctrine. A son of his wrote a
form of service which is used to the present
day in the Episcopal church. Henry married
Anne Boleyn, and afterwards killed her and
married her maid of honor. Upon Henry's
death boy nine years of age succeeded to the
throne, Edward vi He reigned five years and
yielded to Mary, who was Catholic of the
fiercest kind. She sent Rodgers and many
others to the stake for their religion. She mar
ried Phillip H., and after reigning five years
died suddenly. The reign of Elizabeth, who
succeeded Mary, was the last of the Tudors,
and was remarkable one in many respects,
and she Will be known as one of the greatest
rulers that ever lived.
Sir Francis Bacon lived during the last of
Eilzabeth's reign. After studying in Cam
bridge be went to Paris to finish his education.
w hlle there and at the age of 10 years he was
summoned home to attend the death of his
I I an offlcer OF the Court. He asked Lord
Barlelgh for help to obtain an Office, but was
refused, but finally Essex helped him to the
position of Counsel Extraordinary. Soon
after, Essex becoming enraged at the Queen,
got up an insurrection, whereupon he was
arrested and Bacon appeared as counsel TO
prosecute him, thing for which he has been
much blamed. Essex was condemned to death.
At the death of Elizabeth, James VI of Scot
land took the throne, and Bacon was kuighted
by him.. His first publication was tEnglIsh
Gosays, wnicn nave atIalned great reputa-
ton. In 1920 appeared his great work, '.Tbe
New System" This book shows Bacon at his
best, and one cannot read it without being
impressed with the power of its language.
Later in life, while holding the office of High
Chance !lor, charges were brought against him
for taking brides and he lost his position,
wnereupon he admitted the justice of the
charges. The remainder of his life. five wears.
was spent in study. The fame of Bacon is
still growing and will continue to increase for
years to come.