'Goo, lityll boke; be ferfull and quake for dred For to appere in so hy3 presence:

To alle folke that the seen or rede,
Submytte thyselfe with homble reverens
To be reformed, where men fynde offence;
Mekely requerynge, voyde of presomeyoun.
Where thou felyst to do correcyoun.'

PREFACE.

THE following Chapters are intended as the sequel and companion to 'A History of the Christian Church during the Middle Age.' The author had indulged the hope of giving this new portion to the public at a less distant interval, but found his progress constantly retarded by other duties and engagements.

In traversing ground which furnishes so many topics, always full of deep and sometimes melancholy interest to the student of Church-history, he was actuated by the principles which guided him throughout the composition of the previous volume. His earnest wish has been to give the reader a trustworthy version of those stirring incidents which mark the Reformation-period; without relinquishing his former claim to characterise particular systems, persons, and events, according to the shades and colours they assume, when contemplated from an English point of view, and by a member of the Church of England.

CAMBRIDGE, February 5, 1856.