BOOK 8.

ENGLAND BREAKS WITH ROME.

CHAPTER 1.

A CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE REFORMATION. (MARCH AND APRIL 1534.)

A Critical Time — The King condemned at Rome — Two Days too late — The English Envoys and the Bishop of Paris — Miscalculations of the English Envoys — Henry’s Book against the Pope — The People and the Clergy against the Pope — Reaction of Ultramontanism — An epileptic Girl — The Nun of Kent — Scene in a Chapel — Oracles and Miracles — Political Enterprise — The Nun before the King — Her Partisans increase in Number — Attempts to bring over Sir Thomas More — The Conspiracy — New Allies — The Nun and the Conspirators are arrested — Contrition of Sir Thomas More — Condemnation of the Criminals — Death of the Maid of Kent

CHAPTER 2.

HENRY VIII. SEPARATES ENGLAND FROM THE PAPACY. (CHRISTMAS 1533 To JUNE 1534.)

The King’s Proceedings against Catherine — The Monks and the Priests renounce the Pope — Preparation of Charles V. against Henry — Henry prepares to resist him. — The Two Chiefs of the Anti-Roman Party — The Orator of the Reformation — The King abolishes the Authority of the Pope — The Sheriffs ordered to see the Proclamation carried out — The Church, a Department of the State — Authority in the Church — Form which the Church might have assumed — Various Systems

CHAPTER 3.

BEGINNING OF DANGER FOR THE QUEEN AND FOR TYNDALE (1531 TO AUGUST 1535.)

Tyndale translates the Old Testament at Antwerp — His Charity and Zeal — Joye pretends to correct his Version — Tyndale’s noble Protest — Anne protects the Friends of the Gospel — Her Message in Harman’s Favor — Discontent of the King — Plot against Tyndale — Snares laid for him — Stratagem — Attempt at Bribery — Recourse to the Imperial Government — Tyndale’s House surrounded — The Traitor — Tyndale’s Arrest — His Imprisonment in the Castle of Vilvorde — The Life of the Reformers: Apologies for The Reformation

CHAPTER 4.

THE KING-PONTIFF AGAINST THE ROMAN-CATHOLICS AND THE PAPACY. (1531 AND 1535.)

Opposition of certain Priests — Mental Restrictions — Fanatical Monks and timid Monks — Agitation of Sir Thomas More — More and Fisher refuse to take the Oath — They are taken to the Tower — The Carthusians required to swear — Paul III desires to bring back England — Henry rejects the Papacy — Severe Laws concerning his Primacy — The King, not the Head of the Church

CHAPTER 5.

LIGHT FROM BOTH SIDES. (1534 AND 1535.)

Frankness and Misery of Sir Thomas More — Confusion in England — Character of Cranmer — Cranmer’s Work — The Bible shall be translated into English — Cranmer’s Joy — Failure of the Translation by the Bishops — Popish and seditious Preachers — The King orders the Carthusians to reject the Pope — The Carthusians resolve to diem- Threats of Revolt — Incompatibility of Popery and Liberty — The Carthusians are condemned — Execution of the Three Priors — Henry strikes on all sides

CHAPTER 6.

DEATH OF BISHOP FISHER AND SIR THOMAS MORE. (MAY TO SEPTEMBER 1535)

Fisher raised to the Cardinalate at Rome; condemned to Death at London — Piety of his Last Moments — His Christian Death — More before the Court of King’s Bench — He is sentenced to Death — Taken back to the Tower — Meeting with his Daughter — General Emotion — More’s Mortifications — Morning of 6th July — His Last Words — His Death — Sensation produced by these two Executions — Effects on the Continent — Fanatical Bull against Henry VIII. — Henry justifies himself at Rome — His Excuses not valid

CHAPTER 7.

VISITATION OF THE MONASTERIES:

THEIR SCANDALS AND SUPPRESSION. (SEPTEMBER 1535 TO 1536.)

State of the Monasteries — Gluttonous Living — General Disgust — Cranmer’s Advice to the King — Children of Darkness caught in a Net — General Visitation ordered — The Laity reappear — The Commissioners — The Universities — Cranmer on Rome — The Visitation begins — Corruption of Morals in the Monasteries — Immorality in the Abbey of Langdon — Robberies, Debaucheries, Frauds — The Holy Bottle at Hales — The Fraud at Boxley — Coining False Money — Cruelties — The Visitors besieged at Norton — The Nunneries — Apologists and Detractors — Many Monks and Nuns set free — Report of the Commissioners — Deliberations of the Council — Effect of the Report upon Parliament — Three hundred and seventy-six Monasteries abolished — Real Religious Houses-Latimer and Cranmer — Covetousness of the Nobility — Bad use of the Conventual Property — Testimony of the Monks — The Measure accomplished-Terror and Despair — New Institutions — National Prosperity — Social and Political Developments — Transformation of Society

CHAPTER 8.

UNION OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND WITH THE PROTESTANT OF GERMANY. (1534 TO 1535.)

Henry VIII. makes advances to Melanchthon — The Reformer rejects them — Luther and the Elector incline to Henry — The Errors of Intolerance — A New English Embassy to Germany — The Alliance is signed — Cranmer saves Mary — Conference with Catherine — Catherine’s Firmness, Asceticism, and Illness — Preparations of Charles V. against England — Catherine’s Will, her Farewell, and Death — Anne Boleyn’s Feelings on hearing of her Death — England and Germany seek to unite — Theological Discussion at Wittemberg — Will Luther concede anything? — A Master and Slaves at the Court of England

CHAPTER 9.

ACCUSATION OF ANNE BOLEYN. (1535 TO MAY 1536.)

Error concerning the Beginning of the Reformation — Anne Boleyn’s Virtues and Good Works — Her Relations with Cranmer and Latimer — With Tyndale and Parker — Parker’s Christian Character — Anne Boleyn’s Character — The Truth about Queen Anne — Her Enemies — Henry attracted by Jane Seymour — Queen Anne’s Manners — Her Anguish — tier stillborn Son — Her Sadness and Anxiety — Anne’s Zeal for the Reformation — Discontent of the Ultramontanists — Anne’s Dangers increase — Her Anxiety for her Daughter — The Four Articles of the Indictment — Character of Henry VIII. — Commission of Inquiry — Brereton and Smear on arrested — The Tournament at Greenwich — The King makes a Scene — Anne before Norfolk and the Council-Anne Boleyn in the Tower — Her Piety and Innocence — Her Sorrow — Critical Position of Cranmer — His Letter to the King — False Policy of Cranmer — Harsh Surveillance of the Queen — Peace and Agitation in her Heart — Extraordinary Transport

CHAPTER 10.

ANNE FORGIVES HER ENEMIES AND IS PUT TO DEATH. (MAY 1536.)

The Judge acknowledges Anne’s Innocence — Her Enemies and her Renunciation of the World — Dignity of her Answer — Anne’s Letter to the King — Its Effect upon Henry — Northumberland’s Declaration — The Jury — Condemnation of Norris — The Queen and her Brother before the Peers — Anne’s Dignity — Effect produced in the City — Sentence of Death — Anne’s Farewell Address to the Peers — Lord Rocheford condemned — The four Gentlemen beheaded — Henry annuls his Marriage with Anne — Joy and Hope of the Pope — Anne’s Self-reproach — Asks Pardon of Princess Mary — Anne’s Communion — Miracles of the Priests — Anne’s last Message to Henry — Preparations upon the Tower Green — A noble Pardon- Emotion caused by that Christian Act — Death of Anne — Her Memory — The Royal Hunting Party — Henry marries Jane Seymour — Effect of Anne’s Death on the Continent — What Share had Rome in it?

CHAPTER 11.

REFORMING MOVEMENT AFTER ANNE’S DEATH; CATHOLIC AND SCHOLASTIC REACTION. (SUMMER 1536.)

Position of the two Parties — The Pope desires to unite with England — Two men in Henry VIII. — Pole determines to write to the King — Priests are Fathers, Kings are Sons — Henry rules like the Turk — Pole has orders to curse Henry — Sentiments of the King — Mary pays dear for her Reconciliation with the King — Ratification of Parliament — Order to renounce the Pope — Language of the Worldlings and the Christians — Convocation of the Clergy — Latimer’s Reforming Sermon — Necessity of the Reformation — The Lay Element reappears — The Clergy denounce sixty-seven mala dogmata — The Prolocutor’s Charge before the Bishops — The two Armies front to front — A Scotchman in the Convocation — What Cranmer thought essential — Fox extols the Reformation — The Word of God the Source of Life — Alesius is excluded — Necessity of a Convocation

CHAPTER 12.

A MOVEMENT OF SCHOLASTIC CATHOLICISM INAUGURATED BY THE KING. EVANGELICAL REACTION. (AUTUMN 1536.)

Henry plays the part of a Pope — Dogmas of the new Head of the Church — Articles about Religion — Baptism, Presence, Penance, Images, Prayers to Saints, Ceremonies, Purgatory — Different Opinions — The Articles accepted — Cranmer’s Precautions to prevent Mischief Cromwell Vicegerent — Coverdale’s Bible — Evangelical Reaction — Various Testimonies — Persecutions — The foundations of Faith

CHAPTER 13.

INSURRECTION OF THE NORTH OF ENGLAND TO RESTORE THE PAPACY AND DESTROY THE REFORMATION. (OCTOBER 1536.)

Agitation in the Northern Counties-Ferment throughout the Country — Revolt in Lincolnshire — Twenty thousand Insurgents — The King’s Threats — The Pilgrimage of Grace — Sermon of Latimer — Aske’s Address — The Nobility — The Earl of Northumberland — Henry’s Alarm — Panic in London — Brutality of the Rebels — The Lancaster Herald before the Rebel Chiefs — The Insurgent Army marches on London — The Royal Proclamation — Propositions of the Rebels — They disperse — Subsequent Revolts and Repressions

CHAPTER 14.

DEATH OF THE GREAT REFORMER OF ENGLAND. (FROM 1535 TO OCTOBER 1536.)