Page:Outlines of European History.djvu/721

 Protestant Revolt i7t Switzerland and England 615 years of the boy Edward's reign — he died in 1553 at the age of sixteen — those in charge of the government • favored the Protestant party and did what they could to change the faith of all the people by bringing Protestant teachers from the Continent. A general demolition of all the sacred images was ordered ; even the beautiful stained glass, the glory of the cathedrals, Fig. 214. Edward VI, by Holbein This interesting sketch was made before Edward became king, and he could have been scarcely six years old, as Holbein died in 1543 was destroyed, because it often represented saints and angels. The king was to appoint bishops without troubling to observe the old forms of election, and Protestants began to be put into the high offices of the Church. Parliament turned over to the king the funds which had been established for the purpose of having masses chanted for the dead, and decreed that thereafter the clergy should be free to marry, A prayer book in English was prepared under the auspices of Parliament, not very unlike that used in the Church of