CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER II.

HENRY VIII. – THE DIVORCE.

Origin of the Catholic Church – History of the Church, in England, down to the time of the “Reformation” – Monasteries and Monks – Beginning of the “Reformation” by King Henry VIII.

CHAPTER III.

HENRY VIII. – THE ROYAL SUPREMACY.

Resistance to the King's measures – Effects of abolishing the Pope's supremacy – Death of Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher – Horrible murders of Catholics – Luther and the new religion – Burning of Catholics and Protestants at the same fire – Execrable conduct of Cranmer – The title “Defender of the Faith”

CHAPTER IV.

HENRY VIII. (continued).

Tyranny of Henry VIII. – Butchery of the Countess of Salisbury – Plunder – Celibacy of the Clergy – Comments upon the Bishop of Winchester – Hume's charges against the Monks, and Bishop Tanner's answer

CHAPTER V.

HENRY VIII. – THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.

Authorities relating to the effects of the monastic institutions – The great utility of monasteries and the political wisdom in which they were founded – The appointment of Thomas Cromwell as royal vice-gerent – His proceedings in the work of plunder and devastation – The first Act of Parliament for the suppression of the monasteries

CHAPTER VI.

HENRY VIII. – (continued).

Confiscation of the monasteries – Base and cruel means of doing this – The sacking and defacing of the country – Breaking up of the tomb of Alfred the Great – The King's wives, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard – Death of Thomas Cromwell – Death of Henry VIII.

CHAPTER VII.

EDWARD VI.

Edward VI. – The will of Henry VIII. - Perjury of the executors – The new Church “by law established” – Robbery of the churches – Insurrections of the people – Treason of Cranmer and his associates – Death of the King

CHAPTER VIII.

MARY.

Accession of Queen Mary – Her mild and benevolent laws – The nation reconciled to the Church – The Queen's great generosity and piety – Mary's marriage with Philip II. of Spain – The laws and conduct against heretics – Fox's “Martyrs”

CHAPTER IX.

MARY AND ELIZABETH.

Mary at war with France – Capture of Calais by the French – Death of Queen Mary – Remarks on her acts – Queen Elizabeth. – A reason for her being Protestant – Her cruel and bloody laws relative to religion – Her perfidy towards France – The disgrace she brought upon her government and her country by this perfidy – Her base and perpetual surrender of Calais

CHAPTER X.

ELIZABETH – (continued).

The Massacre of Saint Bartholomew – A tail-piece to it: the projected marriage of Elizabeth with the Duke of Anjou – Elizabeth's favourites and ministers: Leicester, Cecil, Walsingham, Paulet – History and murder of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland

CHAPTER XI.

ELIZABETH – (continued).

Hypocrisy of Elizabeth on the death of Mary Stuart – The Spanish Armada – Elizabeth's poor-laws and her barbarous treatment of Ireland – Elizabeth's “Inquisition” – Terrible persecution of the Catholics – Racks and tortures employed by the Queen's agents – The Queen's death

CHAPTER XII.

THE STUARTS.

Accession of James I. – Continued persecution of the Catholics – The Gunpowder Plot – A contrast between this and Protestant plots – Charles I., his accession; the Puritan revolt; his “Martyrdom” – Oliver Cromwell's accession to power – The Second or “thoroughly godly” Reformation – The Restoration of Charles II. – Various plots ascribed to Catholics – Ingratitude of the King towards them – Reign of James II. – His endeavours to introduce general toleration – His imprudence – William of Orange invited over to bring in the “glorious” Revolution

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CHARGES AGAINST JAMES II., AND THEIR REFUTATION.

The Third Reformation, the “glorious” Revolution – The Revolution bore hard on the Catholics – Charges preferred by Parliament against James II. – Comments upon these charges and the refutation of them – Remarks upon Sidney, Russell, and other Protestant patriots – The Habeas Corpus Act passed in the reign of James II. – The settlement of the American colonies

CHAPTER XIV.

RESULTS OF THE REFORMATION.

Triumph of William III. in England and Ireland – The War with France a “no popery” war – The war led to the great increase of taxation – Hence the origin of the National Debt, of Banks and Stock-jobbing, and of the Excise – Strictures on Bishop Burnet – The Septennial Bill due, as its preamble says, to a “restless and popish faction” – Taxation led to the American Revolution – Charges preferred by Americans against George III.

CHAPTER XV.

RESULTS OF THE REFORMATION – (continued).

The American Revolution the first cause of Catholic relief – Enumeration of the penal laws against Catholics, and remarks thereon – The first relaxation due to fear – The French Revolution was “Reformation” pushed to the fullest extent – The second relaxation due to fear – The Penal Code in 1826 – Results of the “Reformation” on religion

CHAPTER XVI.

IMPOVERISHMENT AND DEGRADATION OF THE PEOPLE BY THE REFORMATION.

Former population, wealth, power, freedom, and happiness of England – Comparison with modern times – The progress of pauperism – Conclusion – Motives for writing the book

APPENDIX.