New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-01
Mr.. FROUDE'S NEW BOOK.
A BRILLIANT CONTRIBUTION TO HISTORY.

Story as Told by the Imperial Ambassadors resident
By j. A. Froude Being Supplementary Volume
to the Authors History Of England. svo, PIP. 47o
Charles Scribner's Sons.
Thirty-hvc years have passed since the appear
ance Of the early volumes of Mr. Froude's " His
tory Of England" brought down upon him rain
of oensure for his alleged attempt to whitewash
Henry the Eighth II was indeed a bold enter
prise to attempt even the partial rehabilitation
Of a prince whose reputation as tyrant ana
profigatc rested upon the traditions of centuries
and on whose behalf no historian had ventured
to plead Mr.. Froude, however. had all the
courage Of his convictions. Criticism made no
impression upon him. He proceeded with hls
historical researches, and now, full generation
after the publication of his history, he has been
enabled to bring out a supplementary volume Iuil
Of new evidence for his original conten1ons, anu
which undeniably strengthens his main POSITIONS
and goes far to justify the views taken in his
history with regard to the divorce OF catherine
Of Aragon and the execution Of Anne Boleyn
The new evidence Is Of character to dsarm
hostile criticism; for il Is almost wholly derived
from the dispatches Of the Imperial Ambassadors
at the Court of Henry. These men were OF
course Catholics and they were the active enc
mics of the King. Representing Charles the Fifth,
who was the kinsman and champion Of Catherine
of Aragon, it was their business to ally them
selves with the Queens friends, and to help
forward every movement having for its object
the defeat of 1enrys purposes.
They were also bitter bigOts and partsans, and
as Henry's quarrel with the Pope developed. and
his Reformation work proceeded along with 1t,
the Imperial Ambassadors came to represent the
whole Catholic opposition to the Reformation,
and in an especial way the discomfort and resent
ment of that large body of English clerics who
had fallen under the chastsement Of the King.
Chapuys, whose dispatches to Charles are most
freely drawn upon, furnishes in those cOmmuni-
cations the clearcst possible relation Of all the
dangers and difficulties against which Henry had
TO contend during the seven years through which
the dispute over the divorce Of Catherine eX-
tended. He shows that weaker ruler must in
evitaoy have gone TO the wall in this prolonged
and fierce struggle; and what Is most germane to
the subject, he shows that most Of the acts which
the majority of historians have cited as acts of
wanton tyranny on the part Of the King were
necessitated by the situation, and were wise
movements of defence, wholly justified by the
treason of those who were the sufferers. Henry
was far less choleric and impulsive man than
he has been represented; but he was resolved to
be monarch in his own realm, and when his
authority was disputed by foreign priest, backed
by the English clergy, he did not hesitate 70
take vigorous and effective measures fr the
vindication of his rights The execution on
Fisher Bishop of Rochester, hos always been re-
ferred to as an example of tyranny and cruelty.
Mr. Froudo in this volume has been able to prove
that Fisher invited and pressed the introduction
of foreign Catholic army into England in the
Pope's interest" This puts very different race
on the affair and the chief witness against the
Bishop is the Spanish Ambassador, who was an
active participant in Fishers conspiracy.
The greater part of the present volume is taken
up with the case of the divorce Of Catherine. The
King was pressed to that step by the fear of
disputed succession. The Queen had given him
two male children, but both mad died in infancy,
and no more heirs could be hoped for from her
To understand che apprehensions which the posi-
bilty of disputed succession gave rise to- it must
be borne in mind that the Wars of the Roses
were still wildly present to the minds of the
English people, who would have made almost any
sacrifice or concession to avert such caiamltles
Henry, moreover, had what would certainly in
modern times have been allowed to be a sound OBJ
lection to the continuance of the marriage re-
lation with Catherine; for the kinship of the
parties brought them within the pro-
hibited degrees. The Pope had authorized the
union by dispcnsation but it was serious ques-
ton whether nc had a right to do So and Henry
claimed, not without plausibility, that he feared
he had been living in mortal sim Had better
man than Clement occupied the Papal chair safe
understanding might have been reached, notwith-
standing the pressure brought to bear upon the
Vatican by the Emperor. Yet by refusing the
divorce there was danger that England might be
lost to the Church, and with England France too,
since the countries were closely allied. Francis
the First was burning to avenge Pavia, and sought
opportunity for the invasion of Italy. French in
huence was thrown into the scale against the I'M
peral designs. Charles was too cautious to risk
war with France and England both against him.
lie hal trouble enough with tie Turks and the
Algerian corsairs too. at the time. 1t was his
duty 10 defend Catherine, but he believed this
could be done without risking hostilites, through
his docie instrument, the Pope. But Clement
proved anything but dOcile. Impotent in physical
force he had resort to craft and cunning, and the
divorce cause dragged intcrminahlyy Clcpent
promised he promised both sides; and he broke
his promises He looking to his own inter
csts; Charles, he knew, could crush him, and on
TIE other hand the secession Of England and
France from the Church at the very time when
the Reformation was boiling In Germany, and
Lutlerans increasing in England and all
over the European continent, might entail the
ruin of the Church 1t was juncture when the
fox's skin must exc out the lions. The record
of the tricks and subterfuges Of Clement is too
long to he recaptulated. But both he and the
Emperor miscalculated upon vital point; they
did not understand the King of England. Henry
was strong and resolute prince. and when he
found his ministers playing him false he destroyed
them So fell Wolsey in his pitch Of pride. He
was bent too, on reform in the Church His people
cried out for it. The abuses which had grown up
in the ecclesiastical courts and the monastic in
s,itutions had become alike scandalous and in
tolerahle. Cromwelps inquest opened up in the
latter mass Of corruption foul that eXtirpation
was clearly the only remedy. Exdrpation fol-
lowed. and the people applauded the measure.