ence.

Meanwhile the Cardinal's rich palace of York House, of which he had himself erected a considerable portion, was seized by the king, who persuaded Wolsey to resign it to him; for if it had been merely forfeited to the crown under the statute of præmunire, it would, on the death of Wolsey, have reverted to the church. Wolsey, after some objections, subsequently conceded this sumptuous palace; alleging that "he trusted in the well-known justice and generosity of his master, to make restitution for it to the see of York, to which it had belonged since the year 1248."

An information had been entered against Wolsey, by Hales, the attorney-general, in the King's Bench, purporting "that notwithstanding the statute of Richard the Second against the procuring bulls from Rome, he had procured bulls for his legatine power, which he had many years executed: some particulars, for form, were named out of many more." To this indictment the Cardinal pleaded guilty, but professing ignorance of the statute, submitted himself to the king's mercy. Henry had not, it seems, at first, any intention of crushing Wolsey entirely, and probably the abrupt and violent measures against the minister, which he had adopted, were intended as an indirect threat upon the power of Rome, rather than as a prelude to the total ruin of the Cardinal.

1529.

On the twenty-first of November, the king granted Wolsey his protection, and afterwards his pardon; and not only restored to him so great a portion of his plate and goods as amounted in value to £6374 and odd, a considerable sum at that period, but reinstated him in the archbishopric of York, and in the bishopric of Winchester. These acts of mercy were seconded by many kind messages, both from the king and from Anne Bullen.*

*Burnet.

CHAP. IV.

Continuance of Wolsey's adversities.- Cranmer, Gardiner, Fox.Sir Thomas More: inconsistency of Henry in choosing and retaining him as Chancellor. More's religious zeal. Proceedings against the exactions of the Clergy opposed by the Bishops: vehemence of Fisher, Bishop of Rochester.— A blow aimed at the supremacy. -The Clergy petition. The Beggars' Petition against popery; answered by Sir Thomas More. William Tin

dall: his translation of the New Testament, and the five books of Moses: anecdote of the manner in which his work fell into the hands of Henry the Eighth. - Sir Thomas More replies to Tindall. Henry persecutes with severity. Bilney, Young; their recantation.— Bilney's remorse and death. The King's debts cancelled. -Peace throughout Europe. — Wolsey discharges his servants: fidelity of Cromwell: his parentage, character, and conduct to Wolsey. - The Cardinal impeached in the Star-chamber and condemned: his illness: attentions to him from the King and Anne Bullen: he removes to Richmond: takes up his abode for a time in the Charter-house: is ordered to York: his commendable behaviour in his diocese: his arrest: journey to Leicester: death and character.

IT was not to be expected that any symptoms of a relenting spirit on the part of the king towards the unfortunate Wolsey would prove per

not be found to supply to the king that support which he had, undoubtedly, derived from the counsels of his late minister; and the decline of Wolsey's fortunes produced a speedy alteration in those of two individuals, who were immediately exalted to the highest place in the favour of Henry. It is singular, that at this period, when every virtuous sentiment and every generous feeling appear to have deserted the character of Henry, his new counsellors should both have been men of the most unblemished character.

An accident introduced Cranmer to royal favour. Born in the village of Arselacton in Nottinghamshire, of a family which deduced its descent from the conquest, the early life of Cranmer is one, among the many instances that occur in the biography of eminent men, which proves of how little importance to the subsequent acquirement of knowledge, is the attainment of premature proficiency. Placed under the tuition of a low and illiterate parishclerk, Cranmer in the first years of his education learned little, and endured much from his master, whose attention to his improvement was prompted by that mistaken and vulgar prejudice, which inculcates the necessity of harsh measures in the instruction of youth. Although intended for the church, Cranmer was trained by his father in manly exercises and accomplishments, and in

these the young theologian afterwards sought recreation from those studies in which he eventually engaged; relieving his mind, rather burdened than enlightened by the pursuits then enjoined to men of the clerical profession, by the diversions of hunting and hawking, or by the practice of the long-bow and the cross-bow, from which, however, he was in some measure debarred by an imperfect sight.

It was the lot of Cranmer to be chiefly under female influence at his outset in life; a circumstance from which he, probably, derived that gentle and forbearing character which so well becomes the teacher of Christianity. The censorious may perhaps attribute the pusillanimity which, on some occasions, disgraced his conduct, to the same cause. The father of Cranmer died young, but his mother pursued the plan of life to which her son was originally destined, and sending him to Cambridge, expected probably that he would there take orders, and pass his life in learned and philosophic repose. It does not appear at what exact period Cranmer assumed the clerical habit; he was made a fellow in Jesus College, but choosing to marry, he lost that provision; and was appointed to the readership of Buckingham College, where he remained during some time, his wife meanwhile residing with a