OF CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND, FROM THE EARLIEST RECORDS TO THE PASSING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL, IN 1829. BY J. B. HOLROYD. "Nescire quid anteaquam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: SOLD BY JOHN MASON, 14, CITY-ROAD, AND 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1834. HISTORICAL SKETCHES. CHAPTER I. FROM THE YEAR 1534 TO THE DEATH OF HENRY VIII. IN 1547. THE separation which took place between the church of England and the church of Rome, on Henry VIII. assuming the title of supreme head of the church of England, was not founded upon a change in his views on any of the doctrines held by the church of Rome, excepting the supremacy, as appears from his violent proceedings against all who were charged with the crime of heresy. But the providence of God overruled his proceedings for the accomplishment of a work which he never contemplated, that of emancipating millions of human beings from the degrading and oppressive yoke of spiritual bondage. The king met with much opposition from the monks and friars, who traversed the country in various directions, preaching vehemently in support of the papal pretensions, and against the king's supremacy. Nor was the publishing of these sentiments limited to the country; for one Peto, having to preach before his majesty in the king's chapel at Greenwich, took his text from B |