d had provided
himself with arms, which he intended to employ, in case a favorable
opportunity should offer. He was brought to a trial; and the duke
of Norfolk, whose son, the earl of Surrey, had married Buckingham's
daughter, was created lord steward, in order to preside at this solemn
procedure. The jury consisted of a duke, a marquis, seven earls, and
twelve barons; and they gave their verdict against Buckingham, which
was soon after carried into execution. There is no reason to think the
sentence unjust;[*] but as Buckingham's crimes seemed to proceed more
from indiscretion than deliberate malice, the people, who loved him,
expected that the king would grant him a pardon, and imputed their
disappointment to the animosity and revenge of the cardinal.

* Herbert. Hall. Stowe, p. 513. Holingshed, p. 862.

The king's own jealousy, however, of all persons allied to the crown,
was, notwithstanding his undoubted title, very remarkable during the
whole course of his reign; and was alone sufficient to render him
implacable against Buckingham. The office of constable, which this
nobleman inherited from the Bohuns, earls of Hereford, was forfeited,
and was never after revived in England.

CHAPTER XXIX

HENRY VIII.

{1521.} During some years, many parts of Europe had been agitated with
those religious controversies which produced the reformation, one of the
greatest events in history: but as it was not till this time that the
king of England publicly took part in the quarrel, we had no occasion to
give any account of its rise and progress. It will now be necessary to
explain these theological disputes; or, what is more material, to trace
from their origin those abuses which so generally diffused the opinion,
that a reformation of the church or ecclesiastial order was become
highly expedient, if not absolutely necessary. We shall be better
enabled to comprehend the subject if we take the matter a little higher,
and reflect a moment on the reasons why there must be an ecclesiastical
order and a public establishment of religion in every civilized
community. The importance of the present occasion will, I hope, excuse
this short digression.

Most of the arts and professions in a state are of such a nature, that,
while they promote the interests of the society, they are also useful or
agreeable to some individuals; and, in that case, the constant rule of
the magistrate, except, perhaps, on the first introduc