arrived, when it was convenient to divulge that no subsidy would be accepted, unless his Majesty were acknowledged in the petition or address, as Head of the Church."

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The moral deportment of these two men, the King and Crumwell, who were now pressing this question to its decision, we need not describe. They are both before the reader, and, by succeeding acts, their characters will be farther developed.49 Crumwell, of course, sought only his own personal advancement, at least this secretly prompted all his advice; and as for the office of Vicar-General or Vicegerent, of what was about to be denominated the Church of England, whether he thus early had it in view for himself, or not, it is certain that he alone at last reached it; and, moreover, that the office also died with him, as being no longer necessary, either for the support or security of the King. The title, as gained by Wolsey, and its effects, may have first suggested the idea of its continuance, upon English ground, but the anomalous office was no longer needed, when the superior was once securely seated. As for Henry, granting that he was at present only the advised party, never was advice more willingly accepted, nor more eagerly pursued.

The acknowledgement, as first proposed to be inserted in the petition or preamble to the Bill of Subsidy was this-" Henry the Eighth," &c.,—— "the Protector and Supreme Head of the Church and the Clergy of England." To this opposition was made, and the subject was put off to another day. The article being expressed in such general terms, they were afraid it might be misunderstood in future ages, and interpreted or wrested to an immoral or presumptuous sense. 50 Warham of Canterbury, however, at last supported the designation, and even Fisher of Rochester consented upon one condition, that these words be added—“ et quantum per legem Christi licet"—" as far as by the law of Christ is lawful." But this addition being reported to Henry, he at once replied, that he would have no tantum or quantum in the business, but let it be done out of hand." The words in addition certainly admitted of every variety of opinion, and even the Headship was very differently interpreted. Some, according to Burnet, "understood this headship to be only a temporal authority, even in ecclesiastical matters; and they thought that by the laws of Christ, the secular authority ought not to meddle in ecclesiastical matters." But others thought that the magistrate had a full authority, even in ecclesiastical matters; but that the administration of this was so limited by the laws of the Gospel, that

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49 Crumwell, though not present at the sack of Rome, is said to have certainly been there in earlier life, when soliciting pardons for the people of Boston, in company with one Geffrey Chambers. His contrivance for gratifying the palate of Julius II. in 1510, by certain presents of jelly, made after the English fashion, might be true; but if so, he was now about to furnish Clement VII., the quondam Bishop of Worcester, with a course of proceeding by no means pleasing to his taste, or that of any future Pontiff.

50" Ne termini, &c., in sensum improbum traherentur."-Journal of Convocation.

it did not warrant him to command anything, but what was conform to these,-" so that the words being equivocal, were differently understood even by those who subscribed and afterwards swore them!" They had great reasoning among themselves," but Crumwell and the Judges coming to them in February, by the 11th of that month the article was thus expressed," We recognise his Majesty to be the singular (sole) protector of the Church and Clergy of England, and our only Sovereign Lord, and, as far as by the law of Christ is lawful, also our Supreme Head."51 The form being thus agreed on, Warham offered it to the whole body-all were silent on which he said, "Whosoever is silent, seems to consent ;" and to this one replied, "then we all are silent !" Thus the Bill of Subsidy passed the Upper House; but lo, on its being introduced to the Commons, they demurred. The fact was, that they were afraid of themselves, and wished to be included in the pardon granted upon which Henry, in a rage, now disclosed all the baseness of his character. "Wherefore," said he to the Speaker, "since you have denied your consent to the pardon of the Clergy, I must inform you that such consent is not necessary; I can pass it under my Great Seal; and, look ye, I shall be well-advised, before I pardon those who endeavour to restrain my liberty, and compel my mercy!" The Commons were terrified, when Henry sent them a pardon, through his Attorney-General, having now brow-beat and conquered both Houses.

After all this violent turmoil, however, the work of Henry was not yet finished, his title not yet generally acknowledged. Tunstal of Durham, who belonged to the province of York, with some others in the north, professed to have serious objections and great difficulty at this crisis. That they did not understand the sacred prerogatives of the Redeemer is certain, or that He alone is the Prophet, the Priest, the King of his Church on earth, it being the earth especially to which these offices, as revealed, apply. But still, as the invasion of the Saviour's Supremacy, and especially of his priestly office, by a Priest in Italy, was now to be abjured, for on this point, Tunstal, at present, professed himself to be quite clear, so now he and others expressed great difficulty, in knowing how to transfer the same homage to the invasion of his office as King. There was another difficulty in the person of the monarch, who could trample on laws, both human and divine, and whose example, as a man, was filling the air, as it continued to do, with its pestilential exhalations; an objection, however, which could be stated only at the risk of liberty, or of life itself. But the other was put forth by Tunstal in a formal Protest.

"If," said he, "the words hold forth no more than this meaning, that the

51" Ecclesiæ et cleri Anglicani cujus singularem protectorem Unicum et Supremum Dominum, et quantum per Christi legem licet, etiam SUPREMUM CAPUT ipsius Majestatem recognoscimus."-. Rymer, xiv., p. 414.

King is, under Christ, supreme head in his dominions, and particularly of the English Clergy, in temporal matters: this, as it is nothing more than we are all willing to acknowledge, so to prevent all misconstructions from heretics, the clause should be put in clear and decisive language. But, on the other side, if we are to understand that the King is supreme head of the Church both in spirituals and temporals, and that this supremacy is conferred upon him, by the laws of the gospel; for thus some heterodox and malevolent persons construe the proviso, quantum per Christi legem licet,'—then this construction being repugnant, as I conceive, to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, I must dissent from it. And notwithstanding the clause of quantum, &c. may be taken by way of limitation and restriction, yet because the proposition is still somewhat involved, I think it ought to be still farther discharged from ambiguity. For 'Supreme Head of the Church,' carries a complicated and mysterious meaning: for this title may either relate to spirituals or temporals, or both. Now when a proposition is thus comprehensive, and big with several meanings, there is no returning a single and categorical answer. And, therefore, that we may not give scandal to weak brethren, I conceive this acknowledgement of the King's supreme headship, should be so carefully expressed, as to point wholly upon civil and secular jurisdiction. And with this explanation, the English Clergy, and particularly myself, are willing to go the utmost length in the recognition. But since the clause is not, at present, thus guarded and explained, I must declare my dissent, and desire my protestation may be entered upon the Journal of the Convocation."

Henry professed great respect for Tunstal, and therefore replied to this, through one of his Casuists. But there were other similar protests, so that several months had to elapse, before they could be over-ruled. The Clergy of the province of York, and especially Tunstal, on the principle already pursued, were equally exposed to instant prosecution, and yet, it is very observable, they were never molested; a clear indication that the whole affair was only a dexterous stroke of hand, meant to intimidate the Roman Pontiff, but not, as yet, absolutely to separate from him.

To return, however, for one moment, to the first Bill of Subsidy; it was presented to the King on the 1st of April.—But after all, cautious to avoid the imputation of forfeiture, the money was here granted under the form of a "benevolence" or 66 gratuity," and the Clergy do this by way of gratitude, particularly for the King's having written his book against Luther! his having suppressed heresies, and checked the insults on their body! It was like a retaining fee to a persecutor.

Yet still, Henry had now assuredly gained his object; for if Rome had given him one title for his Authorship, this Convocation had added a second, and, as they chose to express it, partly for the same work. The bill, even as amended, at once gratified, and answered the design of the monarch; "which was to take this unsuspected opportunity of insinuating an appellation, pregnant with pretension, amidst the ancient formularies and solemn phraseology consecrated by the laws, and used by the high assemblies of the commonwealth. The new title, full of undefined but

vast claims, soon crept from petitions of the Convocation, into the heart of Acts of Parliament."52

After an organic change such as this, whatever might be sanctioned by authority, and now took place within the shores of England, could never, with propriety or truth, be laid to the charge of any foreign power or influence; and the reader, therefore, must be curious to enquire what were the consequences, or current of events, during the rest of the year; more especially, as the very same Convocation which acknowledged the King's supremacy, still continuing to sit, gave a tone to the times.

If we were to believe Crumwell, when writing to the Continent, in April, soon after the Convocation of this year had adjourned, as far as the King was concerned, he could not now appear, except as clothed in the white robes of innocence and peace. When trying to entice Tyndale into England, as into a sanctuary, he had talked of "the most gracious benignity" "the piteous regard natural"—"the mercy and grace" of that "most virtuous and benign Prince and Governor,” Henry the Eighth! Let the events immediately preceding and following such language, now be observed.

The Convocation having not only yielded so far to Henry's ambition, but given him the promise of a sum equal to above £350,000 annually, for five years to come; perhaps he thought that, by way of courtesy in return, he must comply with the wishes of this body; but be this as it may, we shall presently find the Clergy and the Star Chamber, in perfect harmony. It was the triumphant reign of Sir Thomas More, for the one party, and of Stokesly, Bishop of London, for the other.

Immediately after agreeing to the preamble of the Bill of Subsidy, or in the 50th Session of the Convocation, enquiry had commenced, at Stokesly's motion, into the opinions of Latimer, Bilney and Crome; and by the 69th Session Warham was examining John Lambert before two notaries. In the intermediate space, finding no living victim, the very bones of the dead did not escape them; but emulating the example of 1428, when they dug up the bones of Wickliffe, they pronounced judgment on the deceased William Tracy, Esq. of Todington, because in his last will he had committed

52 Sir James Mackintosh.

his departing Spirit to God, through Jesus Christ alone, and left no part of his property to the priests, to pray for his soul.53

It was while these transactions were going on, Sir Thomas More and Mr. Brian Tuke introduced the business of Henry's divorce before Parliament, by laying before it the sentence of certain Universities, and the opinions of individuals, amounting to a hundred, in its favour, soon after which the House was prorogued, and the Convocation also dissolved, to the month of October.

But before then, two of the earliest victims of the present year had been apprehended and punished; and just as if the entire honour of this arduous contest must redound to the praise of our first Translator, these were no other than his own younger brother, John, and a devoted friend, Thomas Patmore, both merchants in London. They appear to have enjoyed the double honour of passing through the hands of Sir Thomas More and Stokesly, or the Star Chamber, and the Bishop's Court.

With regard to the first court, the following statement is from Foxe's manuscript, which seems fully to ratify the idea that Tyndale had reprinted his New Testament in 1530.

"There were soon after the coming over of the New Testaments in English, translated by William Tyndale, which he sent to his brother, John Tyndale, a merchant, apprehended, the said John Tyndale, and Thomas Patmore, a merchant, and a young man that dwelt about London Bridge, by the Bishop of London, and brought before Sir Thomas More, being the Chancellor, and by him committed to ward. After they were brought forth before the Lords in the Star Chamber, and there were charged with the receiving of Tyndale's Testaments, and divers other books, and delivering and scattering the same abroad in divers places of the city of London, which they confessed, and therefore had judgment—That they should be sent to the Counter of London, and there to remain until the next market-day, and then each of them to be set upon a horse, and their faces to the horse's tail, and to have papers upon their heads, and upon their outward apparel, that is to say, upon their gowns or cloaks, to be tacked or pinned thick with the said New Testaments and other books. And at the Standard in Chepe (Cheapside) should be made a great fire, whereinto

53 The sentence, however, had proceeded no farther than that of removal from the graveyard; but Parker, the Chancellor of Worcester, in the heat of his zeal, applying for no writ, burnt the body to ashes. Both Tyndale and Fryth commented powerfully on this transaction: and Richard Tracy, Esq., well known as an author afterwards, the son of William, raised a prosecution against Parker for exceeding his commission. Burnet has stated erroneously, that "he was turned out of his office, and fined £400." He continued Chancellor till 1535; "but he was now fined," says Strype, "in a great sum." "It cost him," says Halle, "three hundred pounds to procure his pardon." This was very well-as it was equal to about £4500 of the present day. So much for the officious man, who, after entering upon office, had rated Tyndale as though he had been a dog. See anno 1522, or page 34.