cording to his pleasure?—the answer must be, that, during the progress of the Reformation, the people of England, in general, never felt their spirits very deeply stirred by the conflict between the ancient Theology and the new. They had, indeed, for ages, been remarkably free, as a nation, from all suspicion of heresy; and were, probably, not prepared for any severe sacrifices and exertions, merely with a view to the purification of religious doctrine. But though, on the whole, they were exemplary Roman Catholics, they had often shown themselves but very indifferent Papists. They had acquiesced with a sort of inert and passive fidelity, in the dogmas of the Church; but had, frequently, manifested a fiery impatience under the dominion of the Pope. At length the crisis came, for which the labours of Wiclif had made such formidable preparation. The Pontifical power was shattered to pieces by Henry: and, while the fragments of that idol were before them, they suffered him, with surprising tractability, to mould and modify the remainder of their belief. Their general religious impressions were, indeed, profound and stedfast: and, accordingly, when the Bible was opened to them, they rushed with eagerness to the perusal of it. But there seems to have been among them, comparatively, little of that fierce enthusiasm, which resisteth unto blood. Their interest in the mere theological contest, was far from being vehement or impassioned. It did not burst out at once into civil war, or revolutionary frenzy. They were, to all appearance, not altogether displeased to find,

12

that there was a power on the throne, able to control the turbulent elements which had been let loose, and to prevent their falling into a destructive conflict: and hence the composure—we might almost say, the approbation—with which they generally witnessed the preparation of the six-thonged scourge, and beheld, in their Sovereign, the impartial chastiser of heretics and traitors. While they hated the usurpations of the Bishop of Rome, they were but faintly excited by the question of the corporeal presence. They, consequently, were not awakened into fury by the spectacle of Sacramentaries, and adherents of the Papal supremacy, dragged together to the place of execution. This temper of the English people is amply illustrated by the subsequent history of the Reformation. Under the successor of Henry, it advanced. Under the fanatical sister of Edward, it fearfully recoiled. In the days of Elizabeth it advanced again: and the reflux was then powerful enough to carry it to the point, which, ever since, it has happily maintained. And yet, all these vicissitudes were accomplished,not, indeed, without great peril and disturbance,—— but without any of that wild commotion, which tore the Continent to pieces, and, for more than a century, made Europe a scene of havoc and of

carnage.

CHAPTER X.

1547-1548.

Unsettled state of Religion-Commission during pleasure issued to the Bishops-Cranmer's address to Edward VI. at his Coronation-Persecution under the Six Articles terminatedActivity of Gardiner in defence of Saint-Worship, &c.—A Visitation of the whole Kingdom resolved upon-Preparation of Homilies-Translation of the Paraphrase of Erasmus-Continued opposition of Gardiner-His disputes with Cranmer on the Homilies and Paraphrase-Opposition of Boner-Cranmer's influence predominant in the Convocation-An Act for the Sacrament in both kinds-Repeal of the Six Articles and other persecuting Statutes-Religious dissensions-Various Orders of Council respecting them-Images abolished-Ten Questions submitted to the Bishops respecting the Mass-The answers of Cranmer and other Bishops-Steps towards converting the Mass into a Communion Service-Disorders and outrages attending the first introduction of these changes-Bill for giving the Chapels and Chantries to the King-Cranmer joins the Papists in their opposition to it-Cranmer's Articles of Inquiry at his Visitation.

It was affirmed by the Princess Mary, in an angry letter to the Protector Somerset, written in the course of this that there was year, 66 a godly order and quietness" left by "the late King, in the realm, at the time of his death," which could not be disturbed without a violation of his last will. To this assertion the Protector replied, that "so far was it from a

godly and quiet order which had been left by his Majesty, that no kind of religion was perfected at his death; but all was left uncertain, in a state most likely to engender strife and division; and that, within the knowledge of many persons, his Majesty, at the time of his decease, had firmly resolved upon more effective measures of improvement'."

Nothing, in truth, could well be more at variance with the fact, than this extraordinary Unsettled state of averment of the Popish Princess; no- Religion.

thing more indisputable, than the reply of the Protector. The religion which actually prevailed was a sort of mongrel Romanism. It was neither Popery nor Protestantism. It was not Popery,-for the authority of the Pope was abolished; it was not Protestantism, for many of the Protestant doctrines and principles were still on the expurgatory index of the statute of the Six Articles. It is true that, by the exertions of Cranmer, the severity of that law had undergone considerable mitigation. But, though its edge was somewhat blunted, the weapon itself was still unsheathed, and continued to smite down its victims almost to the latest hour of Henry's life.

The successor of Henry, Edward VI. had not completed his tenth year when he came to the throne. The eyes of the Gospel

January 28.

lers had long been fixed upon him, with hope; those of the Romanists, with jealousy and fear for Cran

Strype, Eccl. Mem. vol. ii. c. 7.

2 Herb. p. p. 557, 558, ed. 1683.

mer had been charged with the superintendence of his education, both by virtue of his office as godfather to the Prince, and of his station as Primate of the realm. It was almost the first care of the Archbishop, after the accession of his Royal Pupil, that the ecclesiastical supremacy of the Crown should be promptly and distinctly recognized: and, for this purpose, nothing could be more effectual than the arrange

shops.

Commissions, ment, that the Prelates should receive during pleasure, issued to the Bi- their Bishoprics anew, at the hands of the Sovereign. Commissions, precisely similar to those which had been issued by the late King, in 1535, were accordingly granted both to him and to the occupants of the other Sees, for the exercise of their Episcopal office and jurisdiction, during the Royal pleasure 1.

Cranmer's Ad

VI. on his Coro

nation.

The first act done by Cranmer, as Primate under Edward, was to perform the ceremony of the Coronation. On this occasion, it appears that, instead of a long Sermon, a brief Address was dress to Edward delivered by him to his youthful Sovereign, for the purpose of expounding to him the precise condition in which he stood, as King of England. "Your Highness," he said, in substance," has this day made a vow to forsake the devil and his works. In the name of the Clergy of this realm, I declare to your Majesty, that it is no breach of this promise to forsake and renounce the

1 Strype's Cranmer, b. ii. c. 1, and Wharton's Observations to p. 141.