he correction of all abuses in
the church, encouraged the University of Oxford to present to him a
petition, setting forth a multitude of corrupt practices which (p. 064)
were a disgrace to the Christian religion in England; and praying
him, since God had raised him up to such an exalted place in the
church, to put forth his power in effecting a reformation.[60] This
document, preserved in Corpus Christi College in Oxford, abounds in
topics of deep and lively interest; it marks the fearful extent to
which the corrupt practices in the church had been fostered by Rome,
the ardent desire entertained in England for a reformation so early as
the commencement of the fifteenth century, and Henry's anxiety to
bring about such a reform in the discipline of the church as might
safely be adopted without giving countenance and encouragement to the
Lollards, against whom the University seems at this time to have been
decidedly hostile.

[Footnote 60: In this petition of the University,
Henry is told, that what Constantinus, Marcianus,
and Theodosius had been in the East, that was he in
the West; by his eminent Christian piety resisting
the accomplices of Satan, and preventing the
western church from sinking utterly. By his wise
and peaceable government of the church he was (they
say) best providing for the peace and security of
the state, whilst he cut off and cast away the
rank, luxuriant offshoots of offences as they grew.
In marking out the most notable defects and abuses,
they obeyed (they say) his sacred commands; and
they prayed him to exert his authority in
correcting them.]

The points to which Oxford then solicited Henry to direct his especial
care, were partly such as are no longer of general interest among us,
(excepting so far as they remind us of the mass of evils from which
the Reformation rescued us,) and partly such as must be (p. 065)
interesting to Christians of every age.

Among the former grievances were reckoned the Pope's unlimited
creation of cardinals, all to be supported out of the revenues of the
church; the excessive grants of indulgences, by which persons were
encouraged in licentiousness; the privileges and exemptions and
sc