New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-01

trusted her too much to give her such an oppor-
tunity.
Anne contributed greatly TO the difficulties OF
the situation. All the disaffected elements were
drawn close together through her sinister IN
Huence. When at last her day of doom came and
let loose upon her head the damnins
evidence he had gathered, there was no sympathy
or pity for her. Mr.. Froudes description OF the
proofs on which she was condemned seems TO
leave no room for doubt as to her guilt. Of the
five men who were c0ndemned' with her, 1t is most
significant that not asserted his innocence
Neither did Anne herself Her friends and allies
and the Imperial Ambassador had no doubt OF her
guilt. Her crime was atrocious; it was treason in
the most aggravated FORM and there penalty
for it but death. 1t terrible business through
eut: but her death by the axe was certainly not
the nest shocking feature Of it. and her con-
domination and execution were inevitable, and not
less just. Her removal was at once a relief and q
help to the King for the hatred she had inspired
had been reflected upon him, and had served as an
inspiration 10 the dsaffected Peers and clergy who
were clamoring for aid from the Emperor to raise
civil war in their own land. and who while de.
claring that the people were with them. yet dared
not make motion until an Imperial army had
been sent to their support.
For years, as the dispatches of Chapuys show,
he had been urging Charles to invade England.
But Charles held off with Characteristic caution,
and the Pope could not be brought to issue the
final sentence of communication and deprivation
against Henry, because he was sure that the En-
peror would not undertake to execute ii, and be-
cause, unexecuted by the secular arm, it would be
ineffective, and sure to bring the Church into
discredit and ridicule Psnl was made to realize,
if Clement did not, that times had changed. The
ho1 coul1 mi rat
Kings with any effect the subjects of the anatha-
matized prince took no notice of such thunders,
and this was particularly the in England.
Neither could other princes be brought to execute
the judgments of the Vatican. Tney looked to
their own interests FIRST and they cared for the
Pope only III so far as they could use him or his
office for the furtherance OF their own interests.
1t was therefore Of no use TO cXoommunicate
Henry, and it,might be very dangerous since oil
the world would see that he was none the worse
for the Papal curse But Henry DID not care what
the Pope did refrained from doing, after the
death of Catherine. lie had cut the knot him
self, and in doing 50 he had freed himself and
his country from foreign ecclesiastical control No
more could Papal briefs be published in England.
No more was the authority Of the Vatican recog-
the Tower, awaiting Judgment for. his treason.
the Pape made him Cardinal. ave will send
his head to Rome to have the hat fitted on"
him and the Bishops execution followed. Clearly
there was no playing with this prince. He met
Pope nor Emperor. When the revenues of the
corrupt monasteries were seQuestrated, he applied
the funds to the increase Of the fleet and the
fertilization of the coasts, and there was poetic
justice in the arrangement. He forced the men
who his bitterest enemies TO defend the
country against their own allies
argument which Macaulay first applied TO the case
Of Henry the Eighth. II he was so foul and cruel
a tyrant, II his measures were So unjust and ca
n1I- h0yV hat IN
step he took he had the assent and support of his
ministers, his councils. his ParIiaments. and his
courts How was it that the great majority of
did So is Obvious The dissl1ents were mainly
the Catholic Peers and the clergy; and though
the former Of these doubtless commanded a Ger.
had long since reached pitch which left them
isolated It is perfectly clear that the King enter
tanned no doubt as to where hlN people stood. 1t
is not less apparent that the malcontents, much
and nOisily as they pretended to speak for Eng.
land were aware that they did nothing of the
kind. For this tyrant lived practically in DE-
fenceess state. he was surrounded by no JAM
zaries: he commanded no battaliOns. His per-
sonal guard was just one hundred strong, and
s ;Ssn not h be s nsnSG w
execrated him? The only rational answer is that
given by Mr. Froude, namely, that the people were
with him.. and that the -, malcontents knew it.
They knew also-and the Pilgrimage Of Grace was
to teach them still better-that the instant are
bellion raised its head It would be attacked with
tremendous energy ana crushed pltilcSSiy. AS
Mr. Froude says: All the great persons whom
Chapuys names as willing TO engage in the enter
prse-the Peers the knights. who; with the least
help from the Emperor, would hurl the King from
his throne, Lord Darcy, and Lord Hussey, the
Bishop of Rochester. as later on, the Marquis Of
Exeter Lord Montague, and his mother-sank. one
their imagnatons for facts, their passions for ar
guments. and the vain talk of an INSCRIPTIONS
Ambassador for solid ground on which to enter
into treason"
Perhaps it is unnecessary to say that Mr..
Froudes book is brilliantly written that his
facts and arguments are marshaIled with great
ability: that his narrative is intensely interest
ing But 1t Is an important contribution TO his
tory besides, and it will give plenty OF work to
the critics-supposing them to be still living-who
vehemently five and thirty years ago.