 In this way, the mind of the author had been imbued with the subject of the Reformation at large; and he had been thus led to study its developments, not only in Scotland, but in Spain, France, and Italy.But in which of these important departments was his first great attempt in historical authorship to be made?Happily, his mind was not out at sea upon this conclusive question, for by the close of 1803 his choice had been decided.