A.D. 1534. They are examined and again CH. 7. the stake with heretics. They were summoned for a last time, to return the same answer as they April. had returned before; and nothing remained but to pronounce against them the penalties of the a last time, statute, imprisonment at the king's pleasure, and forfeiture. The latter part of the sentence was the Tower. not enforced. More's family were left in the enjoyment of his property. Fisher's bishoprick was not taken from him. They were sent to the Tower, where for the present we leave them. are sent to Directions to the clergy to explain in their churches the changes which had taken place. Meanwhile, in accordance with the resolution. taken in council on the 2nd of December,* but which seems to have been suspended till the issue of the trial at Rome was decided, the bishops, who had been examined severally on the nature of the papal authority, and whose answers had been embodied in the last act of parliament, were now required to instruct the clergy throughout their dioceses-and the clergy in turn to instruct the people in the nature of the changes which had taken place. A bishop was to preach each Sunday at Paul's Cross, on the pope's usurpation. Every secular priest was directed to preach on the same subject, week after week, in his parish church. Abbots and priors were to teach their Noblemen convents; noblemen and gentlemen their families and gentle- and servants; mayors and aldermen the boroughs. teach their In town and country, in all houses, at all men to servants. dinner-tables, the conduct of the pope and the causes of the separation from Rome were to be the one subject of conversation; that the whole State Papers, vol. i. p. 411, et seq. nation might be informed accurately and faith- CH. 7. fully of the grounds on which the government A.D. 1534. had acted. No wiser method could have been April. adopted. The imperial agents would be busy under the surface; and the mendicant friars, and all the missionaries of insurrection. The machinery of order was set in force to counteract the machinery of sedition. 米 sworn to the Church, pope's blotted Mass Further, every bishop, in addition to the oath Bishops of allegiance, had sworn obedience to the king as the king Supreme Head of the Church; and this was the as Head of title under which he was to be spoken of in all and the churches of the realm. A royal order had been naine issued, 'that all manner of prayers, rubrics, canons out of the of Mass books, and all other books in the churches books. wherein the Bishop of Rome was named, or his presumptuous and proud pomp and authority preferred, should utterly be abolished, eradicated, and rased out, and his name and memory should be never more, except to his contumely and reproach, remembered; but perpetually be suppressed and obscured.'+ Nor were these mere idle sounds, like the bellow of unshotted cannon; but words with a sharp, prompt meaning, which the king intended to be obeyed. He had addressed his orders to the clergy, because the clergy were the officials who had possession of the pulpits from which the people were to be taught; but he knew their nature too well to trust them. They were too well schooled in the tricks of reservation; * Royal Proclamation, June, 1534. + Ibid. CH. 7. and, for the nonce, it was necessary to reverse the posture of the priest and of his flock, and to set the honest laymen to overlook their pastors. A.D. 1534. June 9. With the instructions to the bishops a circular was sent to the sheriffs of each county, containing a full account of these instructions, and an appeal to their loyalty to see that the royal orders were obeyed. We,' the king wrote to them, 'seeing, esteeming, and reputing you to be of such singular and vehement zeal and affection towards the glory of Almighty God, and of so faithful, loving, and obedient heart towards us, as you will accomplish, with all power, diligence, and labour, whatsoever shall be to the preferment and setting forth of God's word, have thought good, not only to signify unto you by these our letters, the particulars of the charge given by us to the bishops, but also to require and straitly charge you, upon pain of your allegiance, and as ye shall avoid our high indignation and displeasure, [that] at your uttermost peril, laying aside all vain affections, respects, and other carnal considerations, and setting only before your eyes the mirrour of the truth, the glory of God, the dignity of your Sovereign Lord and King, and the great concord and unity, and inestimable profit and utility, that shall by the due execution of the premises ensue to yourselves and to all other faithful and loving subjects, ye make or cause to be made diligent search and wait, whether the said bishops do truly and sincerely, without all manner of cloke, colour, or dissimulation, execute and accom If they they are to the plish our will and commandment, as is aforesaid. CH. 7. And in case ye shall hear that the said bishops, A.D. 1534. or any other ecclesiastical person, do omit and June. leave undone any part or parcel of the premises, hear of any or else in the execution and setting forth of the slackness, same, do coldly and feignedly use any manner of to report sinister addition, wrong interpretation, or painted Council, colour, then we straitly charge and command you that you do make, undelayedly, and with all speed and diligence, declaration and advertisement to us and to our council of the said default. they them in this duty, after the confidence which the them, 'And forasmuch as we upon the singular trust And if which we have in you, and for the special love selves fail which we suppose you bear towards us, and the weal and tranquillity of this our realm, have specially elected and chosen you among so many king has for this purpose, and have reputed you such men placed in as unto whose wisdom and fidelity we might commit a matter of such great weight and importance: if ye should, contrary to our expectation and trust which we have in you, and against your duty and allegiance towards us, neglect, or omit to do with all your diligence, whatsoever shall be in your power for the due performance of our pleasure to you declared, or halt or stumble at any part or specialty of the same; Be ye assured He will that we, like a prince of justice, will so extremely an example punish you for the same, that all the world beside shall take by you example, and beware contrary to their allegiance to disobey the lawful commandment of their Sovereign Lord and Prince. make them to all the world. CH. 7. A.D. 1534. 'Given under our signet, at our Palace of Westminster, the 9th day of June, 1534.' 米 So Henry spoke at last. There was no place any more for nice distinctions and care of tender consciences. The general, when the shot is flying, cannot qualify his orders with dainty periods. Swift command and swift obedience can alone be tolerated; and martial law for those who hesitate. This chapter has brought many things to a close. Before ending it we will leap over three months, to the termination of the career of the pope who has been so far our companion. Not any more was the distracted Clement to twist his handkerchief, or weep, or flatter, or wildly wave Death of his arms in angry impotence; he was to lie down He in his long rest, and vex the world no more. had lived to set England free-an exploit which, in the face of so persevering an anxiety to escape a separation, required a rare genius and a combination of singular qualities. He had finished character. his work, and now he was allowed to depart. Clement VII. His In him, infinite insincerity was accompanied with a grace of manner which regained confidence as rapidly as it was forfeited. Desiring sincerely, so far as he could be sincere in anything, to please every one by turns, and reckless of truth to a degree in which he was without a rival in the world, he sought only to escape his difficulties by inactivity, and he trusted to provide himself *FOXE, vol. v. p. 70. |