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him all in all； he was the most illustrious of the English
reformers； and he； more than any other man； gave direction to the
spirit of reform； which had been quietly working ever since the
time of Wyclif； especially among the humbler classes。
The English Reformationthe way to which had been long preparing
began in the reign of Henry VIII。； and this unscrupulous and
tyrannical monarch； without being a religious man； gave the first
great impulse to an outbreak the remote consequences of which he
did not anticipate； and with which he had no sympathy。 He rebelled
against the authority of the Pope； without abjuring the Roman
Catholic religion； either as to dogmas or forms。 In fact； the
first great step towards reform was made； not by Cranmer； but by
Thomas Cromwell； Earl of Essex； as the prime minister of Henry
VIII。；a man of whom we really know the least of all the very
great statesmen of English history。 It was he who demolished the
monasteries； and made war on the whole monastic system； and
undermined the papal power in England； and swept away many of the
most glaring of those abuses which disgraced the Papal Empire。
Armed with the powers which Wolsey had wielded； he directed them
into a totally different channel； so far as the religious welfare
of the nation is considered； although in his principles of
government he was as absolute as Richelieu。 Like the great French
statesman； he exalted the throne； but； unlike him； he promoted the
personal reign of the sovereign he served with remarkable ability
and devotion。
Thomas Cromwell； the prime minister of Henry VIII。； after the fall
of Wolsey； was born in humble ranks； and was in early life a common
soldier in the wars of Italy； then a clerk in a mercantile house in
Antwerp； then a wool merchant in Middleborough； then a member of
Parliament； and was employed by Wolsey in suppressing some of the
smaller monasteries。 His fidelity to his patron Wolsey； at the
time of that great cardinal's fall； attracted the special notice of
the King； who made him royal secretary in the House of Commons。 He
made his fortune by advising Henry to declare himself Head of the
English Church； when he was entangled in the difficulties growing
out of the divorce of Catharine。 This advice was given with the
patriotic view of making the royal authority superior to that of
the Pope in Church patronage； and of making England independent of
Rome。
The great scandal of the times was the immoral lives of the clergy；
especially of the monks； and the immunities they enjoyed。 They
were a hindrance to the royal authority； and weakened the resources
of the country by the excessive drain of gold and silver sent to
Rome to replenish the papal treasury。 Cromwell would make the
clergy dependent on the King and not on the Pope for their
investitures and promotions； and he abominated the idle and
vagabond lives of the monks； who had degenerated in England；
perhaps more than in any other country in Europe； in consequence of
the great wealth of their monasteries。 He was able to render his
master and the kingdom a great service； from the powers lavished
upon him。 He presided at convocations as the King's vicegerent；
controlled the House of Commons； and was inquisitor…general of the
monasteries； he was foreign and home secretary； vicar…general and
president of the star…chamber or privy…council。 The proud
Nevilles； the powerful Percies； and the noble Courtenays all bowed
before this plebeian son of a mechanic； who had arisen by force of
genius and lucky accidents；too wise to build a palace like
Hampton Court； but not ecclesiastical enough in his sympathies to
found a college like Christ's Church as Wolsey did。 He was a man
simple in his tastes； and hard…working like Colbert；the great
finance minister of France under Louis XIV。； whom he resembled in
his habits and policy。
His great task； as well as his great public service； was the
visitation and suppression of monasteries。 He perceived that they
had fulfilled their mission； that they were no longer needed； that
they had become corrupt； and too corrupt to be reformed； that they
were no longer abodes of piety； or beehives of industry； or
nurseries of art； or retreats of learning； that their wealth was
squandered； that they upheld the arm of a foreign power； that they
shielded offenders against the laws； that they encouraged vagrancy
and extortion； that； in short； they were dangerous to the realm。
The monks and friars opposed the new learning now extending from
Italy to France； to Germany； and to England。 Colet came back from
Italy； not to teach Platonic mysticism； but to unlock the
Scriptures in the original；the centre of a group of scholars at
Oxford； of whom Erasmus and Thomas More stood in the foremost rank。
Before the close of the fifteenth century； it is said that ten
thousand editions of various books had been printed in different
parts of Europe。 All the Latin authors； and some of the Greek；
were accessible to students。 Tunstall and Latimer were sent to
Padua to complete their studies。 Fox； bishop of Winchester；
established a Greek professorship at Oxford。 It was an age of
enthusiasm for reviving literature；which； however； received in
Germany； through the influence chiefly of Luther； a different
direction from what it received in Italy； and which extended from
Germany to England。 But to this awakened spirit the monks
presented obstacles and discouragements。 They had no sympathy with
progress； they belonged to the Dark Ages； they were hostile to the
circulation of the Scriptures； they were pedlers of indulgences and
relics； impostors； frauds； vagabonds； gluttons； worldly； sensual；
and avaricious。
So notoriously corrupt had monasteries become that repeated
attempts had been made to reform them； but without success。 As
early as 1489； Innocent VII。 had issued a commission for a general
investigation。 The monks were accused of dilapidating public
property； of frequenting infamous places； of stealing jewels from
consecrated shrines。 In 1511； Archbishop Warham instituted another
visitation。 In 1523 Cardinal Wolsey himself undertook the task of
reform。 At last the Parliament； in 1535； appointed Cromwell vicar
or visitor…general； issued a commission； and intrusted it to
lawyers； not priests； who found that the worst had not been told；
and reported that two thirds of the monks of England were living in
concubinage； that their lands were wasted and mortgaged； and their
houses falling into ruins。 They found the Abbot of Fountains
surrounded with more women than Mohammed allowed his followers； and
the nuns of Litchfield scandalously immoral。
On this report； the Lords and Commonsdeliberately； not rashly
decreed the suppression of all monasteries the income of which was
less than two hundred pounds a year； and the sequestration of their
lands to the King。 About two hundred of the lesser convents were
thus suppressed