and disabling for ever the malice or the craft of Rome. They perceived that, between his schismatic establishment and his Catholic doctrine, Henry now found himself beset with incessant difficulty and peril. He was, indeed, fully possessed with the notion, that his realm was in danger of being overrun with every variety of political and religious heresy. His perplexity aggravated the sternness of his imperious nature. All parties trembled at his frown, and were apparently in readiness to bow down before his will. In this temper it was that the new Parliament was soon to assemble. And it will be seen with what vigilance and dexterity the Papal faction availed themselves of their growing ascendency, in making the Legislature subservient to their interests.

CHAPTER VIII.

1539-1541.

Firmness of Cranmer in resisting the misapplication of Church property-His views respecting prebendal preferments-Character of Cranmer's auxiliaries-Cromwell-Latimer-Shaxton -Fox-Boner raised to the Bench-New Parliament-Royal message recommending six articles for examination-Cranmer's opposition-The King present at one stage of the debates-Cranmer refuses to retire from the debate, though desired by the King-Act of the Six Articles-Latimer and Shaxton resign their Bishoprics—Cranmer's notions respecting the secular power in ecclesiastical matters-Distress of Cranmer-He sends his wife to Germany-The Peers entertained by Cranmer at Lambeth-The King's gracious message to him-Popish book of ceremonies-Not sanctioned by the Convocation-Exasperation of the Germans at the Six Articles-Indignation of LutherProject of the marriage with Anne of Cleves- The King's antipathy to her―The Convocation concurs in the dissolution of the marriage-Cranmer presides at this business-His views respecting it-His intercession for Cromwell-He is left almost alone-His firmness in opposing the intended Popish formulary —His fall anticipated—Noble fidelity of the King to Cranmer -Proclamation to enforce placing the Bible in Churches-Cathedral church of Canterbury restored to the state of a Deanery and Chapter-Cranmer's benevolent views respecting Canterbury Grammar School-Information brought to Cranmer of the unfaithfulness of the Queen, Catherine Howard—Communicated by him to the King-Interview of Cranmer with the QueenHer Execution.

It would be difficult to imagine a person much less qualified either to conduct or to resist an organized

His

system of intrigue, than Archbishop Cranmer. habits and his temperament were altogether unfit for the agitations and the stratagems of a political life. His greatest personal enjoyments were those of solitary research. His temper was mild and unsuspicious, and his demeanor singularly affable. His candour and moderation were acknowledged by all but his most inveterate enemies. He was eminently adorned with the charity which thinketh no evil. His hatred of turbulence and conflict may sometimes have given to his character an air of pliability; but his pliability was not the accomplishment of a subtle and designing courtier. It was, to say the very worst of it, the occasional weakness of one who, in his heart, abhorred iniquity, but who, not being prodigally endowed with animal hardihood, was not prepared, at every moment, to confront the designs of evil men with sturdy and resolute opposition. A man like this was no match for such masters of policy as Gardiner, and many of his adherents: and no one can wonder that Cranmer's genius was often baffled, though never rebuked, by the more crafty spirit which ruled the counsels of his adversaries. He never, for a moment, seems to have lost the personal esteem and attachment of Henry: but, at this period, he was apparently losing the intimate confidence of his master and it is worthy of remark, that the wane of his ascendency was manifestly accelerated precisely by the exercise of that very quality, in which he is supposed by some to have been unhappily deficient. In spite of the profusion of the King and

:

of spoli

Firmness of Cran

mer in resisting

the misapplica

tion of Church

property.

the cupidity of his favourites, he opposed, with inflexible firmness, the progress ation. He professed himself content that the Abbeys of Royal foundation should be forfeited to the Crown. But he, and his associates, never ceased to insist on the expediency and the justice of abstaining from the utter desecration of the remaining spoils of the Church. They were perpetually insisting on the duty of applying those resources to the foundation of Colleges and Hospitals, and other projects of religious and charitable wisdom. One noble design of the Archbishop, in particular, is worthy of the highest admiration. The Prebendal prefer- His views_rements had been so notoriously abused, specting the Prethat, in process of time, these, too, were invaded by secular men: and the pretence for this usurpation was, that no secular men could more scandalously pervert those preferments, than many of their Ecclesiastical occupants had done, by their worldly and luxurious lives. It was urged, to little purpose, that these benefices without cure of souls, were fit encouragements for those who might be disabled by infirmity or age for a parochial charge; or for those who were otherwise capable of rendering eminent service to the Church; or, lastly, as an aid to such Parochial ministers as would otherwise be starving on their miserable incumbencies '. These considerations proved but a feeble protection against

1 Burnet, vol. ii. p. 8.

bendal preferments.

the prevailing iniquity of the age. But if the views of Cranmer had been promptly realized, the Church would have been provided with at least one effective bulwark against avarice and oppression. His project was, that every Cathedral in the kingdom should be converted into a seminary of “sound learning and religious education;" that Readers should be appointed, at each of those establishments, in Divinity, in Hebrew, and in Greek; and that the Students who attended their instructions, should form a body of probationers, whom the Bishop might transplant, from time to time, out of this nursery, into every corner of his diocese: so that every Prelate would, at length, be surrounded by a College of Clergy, to be promoted by him, according to their talents and attainments1. Unhappily, however, both this and every similar proposal, fell heavily on the ear of a Monarch, who was surrounded with insatiable parasites; who thought that Knights, and men at arms, were the fittest substitutes for monks; and that towers and fortresses were the buildings which ought to rise out of the ruins of dilapidated Sanctuaries. And, still more unfortunately, if possible, the reluctance of the King was aggravated by the machinations of the Romanists. Even the spoliation of the Church was, in the estimation of many of that party, a less formidable evil than the substitution of

His designs disagreeable to the King, and defeated by the Pa

pists.

1 See Burnet, vol. i. p. 301, who says that he had seen a letter of the Archbishop's on this subject; which, however, he does not produce.