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In 1537 the Archbishop, with the joint authority of the Bishops, published a book entitled, The Institution of a Christian Man.'* While the affair of the monasteries was under discussion, he diligently visited the dioceses within his province, and by exertions of every kind endeavoured to promote the purification of the national worship. But Henry, whose chief object in the changes already introduced had been the indulging of his lust or his avarice, began now to entertain a jealousy of farther innova tions. This spirit was carefully cherished by the Popish clergy: the interest of Gardiner and his faction increased, † and the King's zeal against

This book, being composed by the Bishops, was most commonly called The Bishops' Book.' It contains an explanation of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ave Maria, and the Sacraments. It may here be added, that the work entitled, A necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christian Man,' has been erroneously ascribed to Cranmer. In the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, indeed, is a MS. No. CIV., containing what are there called, Annotations upon the King's Book by Archbishop Cranmer.' Where by the King's Book is intended, The Erudition of a Christian Man.? For a more particular account of this volume see 'Burnet's History of the Reformation,' I. 286, where it is expressly affirmed, that it was drawn up by a commission from the King confirmed by parliament.

† Of Henry VIII.'s wavering and hesitating conduct at this period, the following account is given by Burnet: "The King seemed to think, that his subjects owed an entire resignation of their reasons and consciences to him; and as he was highly offended with those, who still adhered to the papal authority, so he could not bear the haste that some were making to a farther reformation, before or beyond his allowance. So in the end of the year 1538 he set out a proclamation, in which he prohibits the importing of all foreign books, or the printing of any at home without licence; and the printing of any parts of Scripture

heretics appeared by his pressing the bill containing the Six Bloody Articles. The Archbishop argued against it however for three days so strenuously, that though Henry was obstinate in passing the act, he yet desired a copy of his reasons against it; and showed no resentment toward him for his opposi tion. His Majesty, indeed, would have persuaded him to withdraw out of the House, since he could not give his vote in it's favour; but after a modest excuse, Cranmer told him, that he thought himself obliged in conscience to stay, and declare his dissent.' When the bill passed, he entered his protest against it; and soon afterward he sent his wife privately to her friends in Germany. Nevertheless the King, who esteemed him for his resolution and his integrity, through the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, and Lord Cromwell, assured him of his continued favour.*

till they were examined by the King and his Council, &c.”— "He requires that none may argue against the presence of Christ in the Sacrament, under the pain of death and of the loss of their goods; and orders all to be punished, who did disuse any rites or ceremonies not then abolished: yet he orders them to be observed without superstition, only as remembrances, and not to repose in them a trust of salvation.”

* Long however, before this arbitrary act was passed, Henry's mind had received an impression to the disadvantage of Popery from a singular work published by one Fish, and called The Supplicacion of Beggers.' Upon this book being rehearsed in his presence, he shrewdly observed, "If a man should pull down an old stone-wall, and begin at the lower part, the upper part thereof might chance to fall upon his head." And then he took the book, and put it into his desk, and commanded them upon their allegiance, that they should not tell to any man that he had seen this book. (Fox.) This work, which depicted in frightful colours the rapacity of the Romish clergy, was answered by Sir Thomas More in 1529. (Bibliom.) See also Latimer's Life.

Upon the death of Cromwell, in whose behalf he had the manly honesty to intercede with his Sovereign, though in vain, the Archbishop retired for a time from court, and attended solely to ecclesiastical affairs. In 1540, he was constituted one of the Commissioners for inspecting into matters of religion and explaining some of it's principal doctrines. In this office he was enabled, by his vigilance, to exclude the introduction (which his collegues had insidiously meditated) of a set of Articles favourable to the old superstition. And, in 1541, he ordered all superstitious shrines to be taken away from the churches, pursuant to the royal letters, which he had solicited for that purpose.

The year following, he endeavoured to get the severe Articles moderated, and to procure for the people the full liberty of reading the Scriptures: but the Popish bishops so far prevailed, that his bill by restraints and limitations fell far short of the benevolent design of the proposer. Even as it was, however, his enemies could no longer brook his patronising of farther reformation; and therefore, while he was holding a visitation at Canterbury, they drew up against him several articles, which were signed by some of his own prebendaries, and in the name of his own church presented to the Council. By these means, they came into the King's hands; who perceiving that the whole charge was founded in malice, took them with him in his barge, and ordered the boatmen to row to Lambeth. Cranmer was ready upon the stairs to receive him: but Henry ordered him to come into the barge, and to seat himself by him; after which he began to lament the growth of heresy, and the dissensions and confusion

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that were likely to ensue; adding, that he intended to find out the encourager of these heresies, and to make him an example to the rest.' The Archbishop approved his Majesty's resolution, but at the same time entreated him to consider well what heresy was, and not to condemn those as heretics, who stood up for the word of God against human inventions.' "O my chaplain," replied the King, now I know who is the greatest heretic in Kent;" and produced the articles. That the clergy of his own church, and the magistracy of his own neighbourhood, should have been guilty of such treachery, deeply afflicted him but having looked over the charges, and perceived their falsehood, he kneeled to the King, and acknowledging that his opinion with respect to the Six Articles was unaltered, though he had done nothing against them,' desired him to grant a commission to whomsoever he pleased, to try the truth of the accusations. Henry upon this jocosely asked him, Whether his Grace's bed-chamber would stand the test of those articles?' When the Archbishop frankly confessed, that he was married in Germany during his embassy at the Emperor's court, before his promotion to the see of Canterbury;' but at the same time he assured the King, that on the passing of that act, he had sent his wife back to her friends.'

Henry in return for his sincerity told him, he would grant a commission for the trial, in which from his confidence in his integrity he should constitute himself the chief Commissioner, being well assured that he would bring the truth to light, even though it were to his own disadvantage.' He named Dr. Bellhouse as second, and left the rest to the

Archbishop; adding, that if he managed the matter wisely, he would discover a deep conspiracy against him.' Cranmer modestly expostulated against being made judge in his own cause, but the Monarch was determined, and thus they parted.

The candid Archbishop appointed his vicar-general and his principal register the other Commissioners, though he well knew they were secret favourers of the Romish faction. These opened their commission at Feversham by summoning two of the principal complainants against the Primate, who upbraided them with their ingratitude in such pathetic terms, that they burst into tears. He then, after ordering them into custody, left the farther discovery of the plot to his collegues. As they proceeded however but slowly in the business, the King sent Dr. Leigh and Dr. Taylor, two eminent civilians, with fresh instructions. The new Commissioners on their arrival issued orders to the proper officers to search the houses of certain prebendaries and others at Canterbury suspected of being engaged in the plot, and to bring back with them all letters or other writings they could find relative to the Archbishop: and thus was the whole conspiracy traced to Gardiner, Bonner, and others. Among these papers Cranmer, to his heavy affliction, found letters from Dr. Thornden and Dr. Barber, gentlemen of his own household, upon whom he had bestowed uncommon marks of esteem and friendship. After asking them what punishments the blackest ingratitude deserved,' he produced to them their correspondence, and dismissed them from his service: but he never expressed the least resentment against them afterward, when he was obliged to see them upon public occasions.