of whom formerly wrote a book on True Obedience, against the Papal authority, to which the latter wrote the Preface, who had both subscribed Henry VIII.'s two books of Christian instruction, who had solemnly taken an oath to him, as supreme head of the Church, and were so long enemies to the Queen, have changed their opinion, merely from worldly motives. Christianity is tolerated even among the Turks, and the Jews are every where treated more mildly than we are; but, in the other world, Kings will be called to account for thus sacrificing the blood of their innocent subjects to wolves." All these remonstrances and arguments, however, made no impression; nay, the persecutors brought forward new complaints, that some of the ill-treated plundered innovators, condemned to be burnt, had expressed themselves with harshness and violence respecting them. It was to be lamented that many of the reformed, even in the prisons, most violently disputed with each other about free will, predestination, the dress of the clergy, &c.

Most of them, however, afterwards endured the most painful death for their opinions with such calm resignation and firm resolution that for fear their fate should excite too great pity, they were forbidden to speak, and no spectators were allowed to be present at the burning of the victims. When Gardiner saw that not merely the leaders were punished, but that one execution

followed another, and that the zeal and courage of the Protestants increased, he declared that his plan for the extermination of the heretics was impracticable, and declined taking any further part. He died the same year, November 12, 1555. The persecutions afterwards continued, under the direction of the cruel Bonner, Bishop of London, and yet even this bloodthirsty man was reprimanded by Philip and Mary for his moderation, and while he caused people to be tortured and burnt, he published model Sermons; among which was one, "On Christian Charity and Mildness, and how dangerous it is to neglect them!!" (73) Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, though he had formerly defended Mary's right against Jane Grey, was bound to a pile of damp wood. The wind blew from him, and one hand was burnt and dropped off, yet he bore firmly the long and dreadful torture. About the same time the dead bodies of the Protestant divines, Bucer and Fagius, and the wife of Peter Martyr, were dug up and ordered to be burnt. In Guernsey, a pregnant woman was brought to the stake, and in her terror gave birth to a child, which a compassionate spectator attempted to save; but others snatched up the infant and threw it into the flames, with the assent of the officers; for it was already infected with the poison of heresy and ought to perish! Thus, by religious persecution, man sinks in wickedness lower than

the spirits of hell, and in stupidity below the brute beast. (74)

Of all the heads of the Protestant Church, Cranmer alone had hitherto been spared, not out of gratitude because he had formerly saved Mary from the persecution of her father, but because it was hoped that he might be induced to recant and to disgrace himself, in addition to the punishment pronounced upon him. By entreaties, arguments, representations, hopes of pardon, and restoration to his office, the old man, now sixty-seven years of age, was induced to write or to subscribe successively six declarations, because the first did not give satisfaction, which did not contain indeed a full acceptance of all the points of the Romish doctrine; but, however, acknowledged the real presence and the papal supremacy, and expressed repentance for his errors and his conduct. (75) Besides this, a speech was prescribed to him, in which he was publicly to relate the course of the affair, and to declare himself guilty. Great was the joy of the Clergy and the Monks, when they had, as they imagined, irretrievably ruined, in the eyes of all his admirers, a man so generally respected and beloved for his talents, his learning, his probity, and many other virtues. This malicious joy was accompanied by no compassion; on the contrary, they purposely deceived the unfortunate man, and held out hopes of pardon, though

it was fully resolved that he should be burnt. On the 24th of February, 1556, Philip and Mary gave orders to this effect, referring to a decision of Pope Paul IV. which condemned him as a heretic, without regard to an appeal to a general council. The prisoner was brought to the Church, where a Dr. Cole preached to the effect "That repentance does not avert all punishment, as examples in the Bible proved; that Cranmer had done the Church and the Roman Catholics so much mischief, that he must fall a victim; their Majesties had, besides, other good reasons for burning him." At the conclusion of this Sermon, Cranmer was to deliver the speech which had been prescribed to him. Instead of this he began with a mild, Christian introduction, and then, to the great surprise of the Catholics, loudly accused himself of having in a moment of weakness, and from fear of death, sacrificed the truth, and subscribed the recantation. The reproaches of the Catholics that this going back was a proof of new falsehood, and a violation of his word, could not move him. On the 21st of March, 1556, when he had mounted the funeral pile, he put the right hand which had signed the recantation first into the fire, and died with the greatest firmness. The speech which Cranmer had really held was not printed, but by Bonner's advice that which had been prescribed him; but nobody was deceived by this falsehood.

The number of persons burnt for their religion under Mary's reign is not accurately ascertained; but one statement makes it amount to 4 bishops, 20 clergymen, 8 noblemen, 84 citizens and merchants, 100 country people and servants, 55 women and 4 children.(76) Pole who had succeeded Cranmer and recommended milder proceedings, so offended by this and other reasons the over-zealous Pope, Paul IV., that he was only induced by the urgent representations of the Queen to confide to him the legation, of which he had already been deprived.

But when the superior as well as the inferior courts became daily more averse to be any longer the instruments of such cruelties, extraordinary commissioners were appointed, who proceeded in the manner of the inquisition, extended their enquiries to almost all subjects, punished trifles in the severest manner, and when religious pretexts were not sufficient, added accusations of civil offences, and even caused distinguished men to be seized in the night, and brought disguised to the Tower. King Philip was considered as the chief author of all these evils, but probably without reason: for even if we do not take into the account that he left England in September, 1555, and only came back from March to July, 1557, he would not have been able to do any thing, either when present or absent, if the Queen's way of thinking had not entirely agreed with his own. In hopes of obtaining the