New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-20

take. II was iguoble and petty. and he was a
statesman OF the broadcast views. who was only
| thoroughly at home in plannin: for the whole oil
Europe lie could not put his heart into 1t either
and he knew that in law and in morals Henry
I was equally wrong. The Pope was alarmed By the
demands made upon him and tempor:zcd. nor could
/ Wolscy or Henry acting independently. bring the
reluctant Pontif to the decision required. Ilenrys
patience was never enduring, and when he real
lied that the Pope was simply
fighting for tine in the hope TINT
he would tire, or that something might occur to
Justify decided action enc way or the other, he
turned nercey upon the Cardinal-egged on by
Anne Boleyn-and the fall of the Minister followed
instantly. Wolscy's end was full Of dignity. On
his last Journey and on his death-bed he lowered
UNNECESSARILY above his perfdious master But
how melancholy is the confession Of the broken
and moribund man to Kingston, as reported by
Cavendish: / see the matter against Inc how 1t
is framed but if l had served God so diligently as
have done the King, he would not have given
me over in my gray hairs. flowbeit, this is the
Just reward that must receive for my worldly
diligence and pains that had to do him service,
only to satisfy his vain pleasure, not regarding
nv gody duty" Even then it is pitiful to see
how he clings to and fawns upon the ungracious
hand that smotc him, and, indeed, it cannot but
amaze the modern reader to note the abJectness
with which this great Minister humbles himself
always at the foot of the throne. 1t even seems
unmay at first sight, and it is necessary to recall
the fact that Henry the Eighth was thorough
despot and would have reduced England to servi-
tude had not Wolsey taught him how to attain
his ends by persuasion, and so protected the in
situations of the country from attack, and pre-
served clear field for National development at
a subsequent period
And what did Wolsey do for Eng
land? We will LIT Mr.. Creighton answer
that question. "Woscy,' be says, "was
the creator of the forces which worked the great
change in England in the sixteenth century. He
obtained for England position in the esteem of
Europe, which he had meant to use for the drec-
ton of Europe generally. . Again. Wolsey
exalted the royal power because he believed that
it alone could rise above the separate interests
of clans and could give large expression to the
national veal The new England that was
created in the sixteenth century was thoroughly
unlike that which Wolsey had dreamed OF. Yet
nevertheless 1t was animated by his spirit HIS
ideal of England, influential in Europe through
the med,atorial policy which her irsular position
allowed her to claim. prosperous at home through
the influence which she obtained by her farsightcd
wisdom and disinterestcdness-this is Wolsey's
permanent contribution TO the history Of English
politics" Mr. Crcighton's picture is q very clear
and at the same time comprehensive one. and he
is interesting throughout The life Of Wolscy. |
indeed is specially fascinating because OF the bit
ter lessons it teaches. and even with all the light
Of recent historical research the outlines taught
us by Shakespeare remain true for Shakespeare |
must have seen that intimate memoir OF George |
which is even to-day the fullest docu-
ncnt upon the private life of the great Cardinal