And as the ecclesiastics had hitherto
conducted a willing and a stupid audience, and were totally unacquainted
with controversy, much more with every species of true literature, they
were unable to defend themselves against men armed with authorities,
quotations, and popular topics, and qualified to triumph in every
altercation or debate. Such were the advantages with which the reformers
began their attack on the Romish hierarchy; and such were the causes of
their rapid and astonishing success.

Leo X., whose oversights and too supine trust in the profound ignorance
of the people had given rise to this sect, but whose sound judgment,
moderation, and temper, were well qualified to retard its progress, died
in the flower of his age, a little after he received the king's book
against Luther, and he was succeeded in the papal chair by Adrian, a
Fleming, who had been tutor to the emperor Charles. This man was fitted
to gain on the reformers by the integrity, candor, and simplicity of
manners which distinguished his character but, so violent were their
prejudices against the church, he rather hurt the cause by his imprudent
exercise of those virtues. He frankly confessed, that many abominable
and detestable practices prevailed in the court of Rome; and by this
sincere avowal, he gave occasion of much triumph to the Lutherans. This
pontiff also, whose penetration was not equal to his good intentions,
was seduced to concur in that league which Charles and Henry had formed
against France;[*] and he thereby augmented the scandal occasioned by
the practice of so many preceding popes, who still made their spiritual
arms subservient to political purposes.

{1522.} The emperor, who knew that Wolsey had received a disappointment
in his ambitious hopes by the election of Adrian, and who dreaded the
resentment of that haughty minister, was solicitous to repair the breach
made in their friendship by this incident. He paid another visit to
England; and besides flattering the vanity of the king and the cardinal,
he renewed to Wolsey all the promises which he had made him of seconding
his pretensions to the papal throne. Wolsey, sensible that Adrian's
great age and infirmities promised a speedy vacancy, dissembled his
resentment, and was willing to hope for a more prosperous issue to the
next election. The emperor renewed the treaty made at Bruges, to which
some articles were added; and he agreed to indemnify both the king and
Wolsey for