his demands; and as the parliament had granted her but a scanty supply, she had recourse to expedients the most violent and irregular. By her own authority, she levied loans or extorted contributions with unexampled rapacity; and this at a time when she was at peace with all the world, and had no other occasion for money, but to supply the demands of a husband who detested her.

A. D.

1556.

By the voluntary resignation of Charles V. Philip was now become master of the wealth of the new world, and of the richest dominions in Europe; but finding himself threatened. with a war with France, he was desirous of embarking England in the quarrel; and Mary, though extremely averse to the measure, was incapable of resisting her husband's importunity. But she had little weight with her council, and still less with her people; and a new act of barbarity tended to increase the unpopularity of her government.

Cranmer had long been detained prisoner; but the queen now determined to bring him to punishment; and in order the more fully to sa tiate her vengeance, she resolved to punish him for heresy, rather than for treason. He was cited by the pope to stand his trial at Rome; and though he was known to be kept in close custody at Oxford, he was, upon his not appearing, condemned as contumacious. Bonner bishop of London, and Thirleby of Ely, were sent to degrade him; and the former executed the melancholy ceremony will all the joy and exultation of a savage. The implacable spirit of the queen, not satisfied with the execution of that dreadful sentence to which he was condem

ned, sought the ruin of his honour, and the infamy of his name. Persons were employed to attack him, by flattery, insinuation, and address; by representing the dignities to which his character still entitled him, if he would merit them by a recantation; and by giving hopes of long enjoying those powerful friends, whom his beneficent disposition had attached to him during the course of his prosperity. Overcome by the fond love of life, and terrified by the prospect of those tortures which awaited him, he allowed, in an unguarded hour, the sentiments of nature to prevail over his resolution, and agreed to subscribe the doctrines of the papal supremacy, and of the real presence. The court, equally perfidious and cruel, were determined that this recantation should avail him nothing; and they sent him orders that he should be required to acknowledge his errors in church, before the whole people, and that he should thence be im. mediately carried to execution. Cranmer, however, surprised the audience by acontrary declaration. He said, that he was well apprised of the obedience which he owed to his sovereign and the laws; but this duty extended no farther than to submit patiently to their commands, and to bear, without resistance, whatever hardships they should impose upon him: that a superior duty, the duty which he owed to his Maker, obliged him to speak truth on all occasions, and not to relinquish, by a base denial, the holy doctrine which the Supreme Being had revealed to mankind: that there was one miscarriage in his life, of which, aboye all others, he severely repented, the insincere declaration of faith to which he had the weakness to consent, and

The Burning of Archbishop Cranmer.

Published Jan 20-1804 by Richard Phillips, 71. Paul's Church Yard.

which the fear of death alone had extorted from him: that he took this opportunity of atoning for his error, by a sincere and open recantation; and was willing to seal, with his blood, that doctrine which he firmly believed to be communicated from heaven; and that, as his hand had erred, by betraying his heart, it should first be punished, by a severe but just doom, and should first pay the forfeit of its offences. He was thence led to the stake, amidst the insults of the catholics; and bore their scorn, as well as the torture of his punishment, with singular fortitude. He stretched out his hand; and, without betraying, either by his countenance or motions, the least sign of weakness, or even of feeling, he held it in the flames till it was entirely consumed, several times exclaiming, "this hand has offended." Satisfied with that atonement, he then discovered a serenity in his countenance; and when the fire attacked his body, he seemed to be quite insensible of his outward sufferings, and, by the force of hope and resolu-, tion, to have collected his mind altogether within itself, and to repel the fury of the fames. It is even pretended, that after his body was consumed, his heart was found entire and untouched amidst the ashes; an event which, as it was the emblem of his constancy, was fondly believed by the zealous protestants. Cranmer was adorned with candour, sincerity, and beneficence, and all those virtues which were fitted to render him useful and amiable in society. His moral qualities procured him universal respect; and his learning and capacity reflected a lustre on the age in which he lived.

Pole, who was now installed in the sce of Can

terbury,