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degree, commenced the study of theology. He was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Lincoln. The scene of his first services is not known. He entered zealously into his new duties and seems to have been extremely exact in his ritual observances. He alludes to this in a later sermon. "I remember how scrupulous I was in my time of blindness and ignorance; when I should say mass, I have put in water twice or thrice for failing, insomuch, when I have been at my memento, I have had a grudge in my conscience, for fearing that I had not put in water enough." He also held, according to Fox, "that he should never be damned, if he were once a professed friar, with divers such superstitious fantasies."

CHAPTER II.

PAYING FOR ST. PETER'S-SALE OF INDULGENCES

TETZEL AND LUTHER-BURNING

THE BULL-THE

REFORMATION IN ENGLAND-WICKLIFFE-HENRY VIII., DEFENDER OF THE FAITH-TYNDAL-THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.

E have next to turn to Rome, where we find Pope Leo the Tenth much troubled for means to continue the work on the great church of St. Peter. He finally resorted to a plan which had been before found financially available. An indulgence assured its holder, under the authority of Christ's vicar on earth, pardon for the sin mentioned in the instrument. Like many more modern quackeries, it was an enticing thing to believe it, for it promised much and cost little. There was then, however, no question of belief; the panacea was sure to be taken in large quantities. A sale of indulgences was determined upon. The enterprise was farmed out in districts, a large commission allowed to

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agents, and all arranged on the best moneymaking principles. The agents, mostly Dominican monks, soon made their way to the towns and villages of Europe. They were about as welcome to the local clergy as a peddler to a country store-keeper. How could the confessor enjoin penance when the offender could buy himself out of purgatory over the priest's head? However inclined to doubt the itinerant's soundness, he had neither rack nor mob at command, and the business went on with great success until one of these Dominicans, Tetzel, opened his chest of wares in the Saxon village of Wittenberg, the residence of Martin Luther, an Augustine monk.

Luther, disapproving of Tetzel's proceedings, wrote a remonstrance to Rome, not doubting but that the Pope, ignorant of the acts of his emissary, would be glad of the opportunity afforded by the information of removing the scandal. The Pope treated the humble communication with contempt. Luther was led from this to examine into the grounds of the papal authority. He found it a usurpation, and at the root of most of the corruptions which now afflicted the

LUTHER AND THE POPE.

21

Church. He published his views, and found

many readers. The Pope tried the old remedy, and excommunicated him as a heretic. Luther burnt the Pope's bull in public. As he was protected by his sovereign, the Elector of Saxony, who was in turn favored by the Emperor Charles the Fifth, the Pope could not retaliate by burning Luther. Firm in his indomitable courage, without which Elector and Emperor would have probably proved but feeble supports, he went to the Diet of Worms, defended his doctrines in the midst of his enemies, came home, and in a nominal imprisonment imposed by the Elector as a measure of protection, continued to write and publish.

For the first time for centuries a reformer stood forth and said what he thought without having his voice choked by the smoke of his funeral pyre. The very novelty and boldness struck men with awe. Slumbering truth threw off the mummy-like wrappings in which she had been cunningly swathed, and started up as a giant refreshed.

All Europe was moved by this great debate. England shared in the general

interest. She had been partially aroused a century before by Wickliffe. Protected by political friends he had translated the Bible, taught some reformed doctrine, and yet lived in tranquillity, and died in his bed. The clergy, foiled of their auto da fé of the living man, as soon as they gained the power, tore up the grave, burnt its contents, and scattered the ashes in the Swift, "a neighboring brook running hard by." this brook," in the noble language of Fuller, "hath conveyed his ashes into Avon, Avon into Severn, Severn into the narrow seas, they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wickliffe are the emblem of his doctrine, which now is dispersed all the world over."

"Thus

England was probably better prepared than most of the European nations to receive the reformed doctrines. Wickliffe's Bible had reached many families. The Lollards, as his disciples were styled, were scattered about the land. The first reception of Luther's writings, however, so far as external appearances went, was discouraging. The King himself entered the lists of controversy, and published a volume in refutation of the

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