bishops, who might promote them, according to their abilities, to parochial charges.

The King, however, had other intentions, and spoke decisively on the subject. Immediately, all gave way to his royal will, and Cranmer was left alone to brave the storm. He still, however, continued his opposition; and it soon began to be whispered that the primate's influence was greatly lessened, the Protestant cause tottering, and Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester, one of the leaders of the Catholic party, rapidly gaining ground.

This wily statesman, or ecclesiastic, as the times called for, thought it now a favorable moment to strike a blow at the Protestant party. He was aided by the Duke of Norfolk in this enterprise, and their representations greatly moved the King. Nothing, however, rescued the monasteries from his avarice. Images, shrines, and relics were treated as rubbish, and even Thomas à Becket, the saint of Canterbury, whose tomb had been the object of pilgrimages, and whose remains had performed miracles, for centuries, was now doomed to be tried in a court of justice. It was thought that a splendid jewel, formerly bestowed on his shrine by Louis the Seventh of France, greatly increased the King's zeal. However that may be, he cited the saint to appear at Court, and had him tried and condemned as a

traitor, ordered his name to be struck out of the Calendar, his bones to be burned, and the ashes scattered to the winds, and all his treasures confiscated to himself!

The capricious extravagance with which he dispensed the wealth thus acquired is almost incredible, giving abbeys as a reward to a cook who had dressed a dish to his taste, and making even more disgraceful donations.

The only religious question, which Henry through his life supported with unwavering zeal, was, the corporeal presence of Christ in the eucharist. Gardiner represented to the King, that severe persecution. of those who denied it would establish his character for piety, and zeal against heretics. An unfortunate opportunity presented itself in the person of John Nicolson or Lambert, who had denied the real presence. He was first summoned before Cranmer, who mildly and judiciously strove to make him retract a paper that he had sent forth. Unhappily for him, he appealed from the Archbishop to the King. The disgusting parade of a trial, in which poor Lambert was silenced by the learning and arguments of the King, his condemnation, and barbarous execution, all are too well known to need a repetition; nor would it have now been alluded to, but as a proof that at that time Cranmer pro

fessed and maintained the papist's doctrine of the eucharist.

Bonner, about this time, was elected as successor to the Bishop of Hereford. He had early been sent to Rome to plead the King's cause before the Pope, Clement, but did it with such imprudent zeal, that the Holy Father threatened to throw him into a caldron of boiling lead, and he was glad to make his escape. Soon after his promotion, it became evident to Cranmer that he favored the Catholic cause.

The birth of an heir to the English crown, on the 12th of October, 1537, produced an extravagant joy in the feelings of the King. For eight-and-twenty years he had been looking forward to a successor in the male line. The Queen scarcely lived long enough to participate in the general joy, or to comprehend the ecstatic feelings of a mother. She died a few hours after

the birth of her son.

Of Jane, little seems to be said in history, except that her conduct was full of meekness and discretion. Happily for herself, she did not live long to try the constancy of her royal spouse.

The name of Edward was given to the Prince at his baptism. Archbishop Cranmer, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Lady Mary, were his spon

sors.

The Lady Elizabeth at that time was but little over four years old. A letter of hers is recorded by Strype. But there appears to be but little evidence that it was wholly indited by a child.

CHAPTER VIII.

THERE is no period in Cranmer's life, in which his resolute and unwearied efforts were more faithfully exerted, than in his endeavour to convert the spoils of religious houses to the purposes of learning and benevolence. Those noble buildings which have since become the residence of owls and bats, might, had the Archbishop's voice been listened to, have afforded shelter to the sick and houseless, or have been converted into colleges and hospitals. But these required the funds, which Henry had otherwise appropriated. The picturesque ruins of many an ancient building, overgrown with ivy, and desolate in its beauty, remain to tell the story of royal cupidity, and to furnish a study to the artist.

The Pope, once more, had recourse to excommunication, and declared the King guilty of atrocious crimes, inviting the Scottish monarch to take possession of the British throne. But the thunder of the Vatican communicated as little terror to the English nation, as if it had been the music of the spheres ; and the flashes of its light