1

charges against him. The bill was passed by the lords but Cranmer resolutely entered his protest against it, although supported in his dissent only by a 1 single peer, who was a zealous Roman Catholic. What the peers approved, however, the commons resisted. They voted, in the spirit of the new law, that, before the attainder was confirmed, the accusers and the accused should be heard face to face. Their resolution they submitted to the king, who returned no answer; and thus the bill proceeded no further. But afterwards a commission directed to the lord chief justice and others, instead of a public trial, effected what was desired; the commissioners being satisfied with written documents, and the prelate being accordingly by them deprived of his see before the end of 1552. In the reign of Mary he was restored to it, in that of Elizabeth again deprived of it, and ended his days, nominally as a prisoner at Lambeth Palace, in 1559.

In filling up the vacant sees in his province, the advice of Cranmer was generally followed. While the preceding transactions were leading to the removal of prelates, an opportunity offered of advancing, through his interest, to the episcopal rank, his unassuming friend, Miles Coverdale, dear to him as a man of learning, still more so as

1 Lord Stourton. Journals of the H. of Lords.

2

a constant preacher of the Gospel, and an able 'translator of the Scriptures. Coverdale had accompanied lord Russel, in his expedition against the Devonshire rebels, as his chaplain. Veysey, bishop of Exeter, in 1551 resigned that see. A successor more fit than Coverdale could hardly be found; in the autumn of that year he was accordingly so consecrated. Scarcely two years had witnessed him a prelate, when Mary hurled him from his dignity, to which Elizabeth would gladly have restored him, if he had not preferred the acceptance of a parochial benefice. To him, as to Latimer, the quiet of a private life was infinitely more valuable than the wealth, with the cares, of a mitre. Like him, Latimer also might have again possessed the bishopric which he had formerly resigned; but finding in Lambeth palace, where for many years he was the guest of Cranmer, the supply of all his wishes, he declined it, equally honoured, however, all sorts of people, never losing the name of lord, and still looked on as a bishop, though without a bishopric." What wonder, when his principal employment there was to be of service to others, to be the almoner of the archbishop, and especially to procure redress for those who complained

1

66 4

by

See his correspondence concerning the translations of the Bible, vol. i. p. 229, seq.

2. See before, in the present vol. p. 72. 'See before, vol. i. p. 279.

4

Heylin, 102.

of the law's delay or partiality.

"Poor folks

come unto me," so he told the king and the protector in one of his sermons, " desiring me that I will speak that their matters may be heard. I trouble my lord of Canterbury; and being in his house, now and then I walk in the garden looking in my book, as I can do but little good at it. But something I must needs do, to satisfy this place. I am no sooner in the garden, and have read awhile, but by and by cometh there some or other knocking at the gate. Anon cometh my man, and saith, Sir, the gate would speak with you. When I come there, then it is some or other that desireth me that I will speak that his matter might be heard, that he hath lain thus long at a great cost and charges, and cannot once have his matter come to the hearing." What suitor in the court of chancery, even in this our day, would not be glad of such an advocate before his sovereign?

there is one at

The refusal of the lady Mary to conform to the new liturgy, and the connivance at her use of the mass, had now long continued. Her disobedience grieved the young king; and at the beginning of 1551 he sought the advice of Cranmer, Ridley, and Ponet, in order to suffer it no longer. They replied, that "to give licence to sin, was sin; but to suffer and wink at it for a

1 March 20, 1551. K. Edward's Journal. Burnet.

time might be borne, so all possible haste might be used;" which the biographer of bishop Ridley interprets, 1that it was always a sin in a prince to give licence to sin, but not always so to forbear or remit the punishment for a time, in hopes of amendment; and that sometimes a less evil, connived at, might prevent a greater. In truth, from her kinsman, the emperor of Germany, Mary had obtained protection; and from Edward's Council Charles had obtained a promise in her favour. That promise was now said to have been only of a temporary connivance. After five months more, the king himself wrote to her, and she then answered him, "2 that although your Majesty hath far more knowledge and greater gifts than others of your years, yet it is not possible that your Highness can at these years be a judge in matters of religion. And, therefore, I take it that the matter in your letter proceedeth from such as do wish those things to take place, which be most agreeable to themselves; by whose doings (your Majesty not offended) I intend not to rule my conscience." The Council, four days after the date of this epistle, informed her, in the king's name, of his sorrow" to perceive no amendment in her, of that which for God's cause, her

1 Ridley, 332.

3

2 Foxe. And Council-Book, Archæol. vol. xviii. The letter is dated August 19, [1551.]

3 Council-Book, Archæol. ut supr.

soul's health, and the common tranquillity of the realm, he had so long desired; assuring her that his sufferance had much more demonstration of natural love, than contentation of his conscience and foresight of his safety; that although she gave him great occasion to diminish his natural love, yet he was loth to feel it decay, and meant not to be so careless of her as he was provoked; and therefore he sent the lord chancellor Riche, Sir Anthony Wingfield, and Sir William Petre, to regulate her household." These commissioners proceeded to her residence in Essex. They reported to her the king's pleasure, that the Romish service must be discontinued in her house; and to her chaplains, and servants, the prohibition also was announced. By them, but not by her, obedience was now promised. Dr. Malet, who 1 formerly assisted Cranmer in a revision of the service-book to which Mary adhered, had already endured imprisonment for using the ancient ritual, in her absence, as her chaplain. Aware that the emperor had threatened to dissolve the friendship between England and his dominions, if the liberty of worship was still denied her, Mary, therefore, rather scornfully observed, that if her chaplains should say no mass, she could hear none; that they might do as they pleased; that still "" she would be the true subject and sister of

1

1 See before, vol. i.
P. 198.

2 Council-Book, Archæol. ut supr.