CHAPTER IX.

Attempts of the Papists for a revision of the English Bible-Portions of the Bible appointed to be read by the minister, in Church --Reformation in Scotland-Certain questions proposed to the English Divines by the King-Cranmer's answer to them—The “King's Book”—Cranmer's visitation of his diocese―The King marries Catharine Parr-Abortive conspiracy for the ruin of Cranmer Act for mitigating the Six Articles-Gostwick's attack on Cranmer-Alteration of Cranmer's armorial device— English Litany-Cranmer's attempts at more effectual Reformation, defeated—Another fruitless plot against CranmerCranmer falsely accused of mean housekeeping, by SeymourOrders for the removal of Images which had been used superstitiously-English Prayers partially allowed-Anne AskewCranmer not concerned in her persecution-Death of Henry VIII.-Reflections on his character and government.

1542.

In spite of the recent defeats sustained by the Romish party, the struggle between the ancient and the reformed principles was still continued with unabated obstinacy; so that the Primate was compelled to stand incessantly on the Attempts of the watch. In the course of the last year, sion of the Eng- a new edition of the English Bible had been published by authority, under the superintendence of Tonstal and Heath: but, nevertheless, the clamour of the Romanists was urgent for

Papists for a revi

lish Bible.

a fresh revision; and Gardiner, more particularly, insisted on a retention, in the Latin form, of a number of words and phrases, the genuine sense and majesty of which, as he contended, the English tongue was incapable of representing1. It was therefore proposed to the Convocation, that the Bishops should divide between them the task of a complete revisal. The Primate saw the danger of this insidious suggestion; and he diverted it, by moving that the business should be confided to the Universities. He was unshaken by the groundless objection that those learned bodies were then in no condition to undertake so arduous an office; and he silenced all further opposition to his own measure, by obtaining the concurrence of the King. The project, however, seems to have fallen to the ground: and the only advantage derived from the victory, was the preservation of the sacred text from the unfaithful handling of Romish theology 2. In the course of another twelvemonth, indeed, the anti-scripturists obtained a calamitous triumph. The King by that time was so wearied and perplexed by the spirit of dissension which was still abroad, that he began almost to repent of his liberality, and seemed disposed to suppress all writings on religious subjects, without distinction: and in this mood, probably, it was, that he

1 Wilk. Conc. vol. iii. p. 861. where a list may be found of the Latin words upon which Gardiner had set his heart.

2 Or, in the language of Fuller, the saving it from the policy of Gardiner, who being unable to extinguish the light, was for putting it into a dark lantern. And see Collier, ii. p. 185.

consented to the prohibition of Tindal's English Bible, and to an order for obliterating all prologues and annotations from every existing copy. The perusal of Scripture, it is true, was not wholly forbidden; but it was permitted under a variety of capricious and arbitrary limitations. The indulgence was confined to noblemen and gentlemen, who might read it to their families, within the precincts of their gardens, or their orchards; to merchants, who were permitted to peruse it alone and privately; and to women, who, if of noble, or of gentle blood, might enjoy the same solitary privilege. Imprisonment, and subsequently, corporal punishment, was to be the lot of every artificer or husbandman, who should be detected in this forbidden occupation; and these vexatious restrictions continued unmitigated for the remainder of Henry's life.

Notwithstanding the repeated proclamations and injunctions which had been issued for the abolition of superstitious practices, the exertions of the Primate were still incessantly required for their effectual suppression. In the autumn of the preceding year, he had prevailed upon the King to issue a letter for the more general destruction of shrines, and other " monuments of miracles1:" and early in this year he called the attention of the Convocation to the wax candles, and the silken habits, and other costly trumpery, which were still lavished on the images of saints; and insisted that these reliques of idolatrous

1 Strype, Cranm. b. i. c. 23.

vanity should be rigorously extirpated. He also endeavoured to procure a correction of the ritual, and the purification of the service book from a miscellaneous collection of legendary trifles, and more especially, from all mention of the Bishop of Rome. These proposals, however, slept in the reluctant and sluggish ears of the Clergy; and nothing of much importance could be achieved for these purposes, during the present reign'. One memo

Portions of the

to be read by the Minister, in Church.

rable improvement, indeed, was at this Bible appointed time introduced into the public worship. It was ordered, that a chapter out of the Bible should be read in English, by the minister, after the Te Deum and the Magnificat respectively, and so on till the whole of the Book should be read through, in regular succession: but no attempt at commentary on the sacred text was allowed to accompany this exercise 2.

The compendious nature of this narrative makes it necessary here, as in some other places, to pass over several of the lighter labours of the Archbishop; such, for instance, as his visitation of All Souls' College, Oxford, which had contracted an evil name for luxurious habits, and neglect of discipline and study3; and his publication of sumptuary rules, to limit the

1 Strype, Eccl. Mem. vol. i. c. 50. Coll. vol. ii. 185.

2 Strype, Eccl. Mem. vol. i. c. 50.

3 The College, says Cranmer's Register, was scandalous for its "compotations, ingurgitations, and enormous comessations." Strype, Cranm. b. i. c. 23.

extravagance of clerical entertainments'. It would, however, be injurious to his memory to omit, that this year accidentally furnished him with an opporReformation in tunity of being mainly instrumental to

Scotland.

the religious Reformation of Scotland. Up to that time, the Scottish people had looked, almost with detestation, upon the schismatical proceedings of their southern neighbours. No pains had been spared by Henry to invite and encourage them to an imitation of his policy. He had instructed his sagacious ambassador, Sir Ralph Sadler, to give the Scottish King a taste for Reformation, by exciting his relish for the plunder of the monasteries. He had caused the Bishop of St. David's, Dr. Barlow, to carry into Scotland the Institution of a Christian man. But both the diplomatic and the spiritual missionary were sent in vain. They preached, it seems, to a perverse and crooked generation, who, in spite of all appeals to their secular passions, or religious feelings, still persisted in scowling with disdain upon their heretical adversaries and rivals. The fervid and jealous temper of the Scots made them bitterly

1 These rules may be seen in Wilk. Conc. vol. iii. p. 862. They graduate the scale of entertainment with edifying precision, according to the rank of the ecclesiastic. For instance, an Archbishop might have six blackbirds in a dish, a Bishop only four, the other degrees three, &c. &c. &c. As might be expected, these regulations speedily fell into oblivion. A memorandum is subjoined to this most culinary ordinance, which informs us, that "the order was kept up for two or three months! till, by the disusing of certain wilful persons, it came to the old excess."