“ HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION.” 183 
most of the European languages, that praise may be deemed meagre 
which is not excessive. But, however true may be the observation 
that this work is a powerful antidote against popery, and that it forms 
the most solid basis of the author’s fame, yet even they who are dis- 
posed to rate it as the best history we then possessed in our language, 
will be far from deeming Burnett a writer whose taste is always cor- 
rect, whose style is always noble, and in every respect suited to the 
majesty of history. 
He who describes striking characters and most important events— 
and there are few periods in the annals of modern history illustrated 
by a greater variety of them, and by more exalted talents and vir- 
tues, than the reigns which Burnett has recorded; he who sits in 
judgment upon emperors, kings, pontiffs, prelates, and statesmen, 
ought not to be constantly stepping aside from his proper track to 
follow the antiquary and memoir-writer in their minute details. But 
if he does appear in their walks, his entrance should be marked by an 
attitude neither mean, nor ungraceful, nor uninteresting. The micro- 
scopic observer will discover more than one little spot where Bur- 
nett’s notions as to the perfections of historical painting will be 
thought very jejune, when he can select, as a fit circumstance to be 
transmitted to future generations, that the infamous Bishop Bonner 
delighted in the taste of pears and puddings.* 
Now, it is natural to expect that what elevates the mind of man 
will not debase his language. In the relation of great actions we have 
a right to look for an elevated tone of diction. In the pages under 
review, there is a homeliness in many of the expressions which often 
borders upon vulgarity, and but ill accords with our ideas of him 
who contemplates the downfall of hierarchies. Not that there is a 
* It should seem, however, that Burnett thought that a touch of this 
kind heightened the effect of the picture, and almost placed the man which 
it pourtrays before our eyes; for he thus answers Dr. Hickes, who had com- 
mented very sharply on his noticing the foregoing particularity :—‘‘ He is 
angry for my taking notice of Bonner’s writing to his friends for puddings 
and pears. I must desire you to observe his ingenuity in this; since my re- 
flections did not fall on these words of Bonner, but on his adding that if his 
friends would not furnish him with them, he would give them to the devil, 
and to all the devils. Now this, from a bishop in affliction, writing to his 
private friends, shewed a strange kind of brutish levity, and the observing of 
that was not below the majesty of history, as Bonner acted so great a part 
during the whole time that I write upon: such a stroke as this, in my poor 
opinion, ought not to have been suppressed.”--See the Bishop of Sarum’s 
letter to the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. 
