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The King remains a widower but for a day, and then marries Lady Jane Seymour. The new Queen died in giving birth to a son, afterward King Edward the Sixth.

The King had not this time a wife ready in advance, and Cromwell thought the occasion a good one to promote the Protestant interest by an alliance with one of the Protestant princes of Germany. He therefore persuaded the King, on the evidence of a portrait, representing the lady as comely, to solicit the hand of Anne of Cleves. He won with little wooing, but on the arrival of the lady was sadly disappointed in her personal appearance. The lady's family was too powerful for him to venture on a breach of promise, or settle the matter after his usual fashion by the sharp stroke of the headsman of the Tower. He married, and visited his revenge on Cromwell. A bill of attainder was passed, many of the lords gladly assenting from jealousy of Cromwell's elevation, which had been rapid from his original position as a retainer in the household of Cardinal Wolsey. Others of his peers as gladly assented from an open or secret attachment to the old doctrines and rites of the Church

of Rome. Cromwell was executed. He was succeeded in his office by Bishop Gardiner.

Latimer, on the passage of the Six Articles, unable to yield his belief to their doctrines, and unwilling to dissemble, resigned his bishopric July 11, 1539. As he laid aside his episcopal robe he gave a leap, and remarked, "That he was now rid of a great burthen, and had never found his shoulders so light before."

All accounts agree in their testimony to his faithful and laborious discharge of the duties of his office. A letter written the Christmas before his resignation bears indirect testimony to his frugality to himself and liberality to the poor. His income, he writes, is exhausted. "I have left to myself to keep my Christmas withal, and to come up withal, three-score pounds. All the rest is spent: if well, that is my duty; if otherwise, that is my folly. As any man can complain, I must make answer; else, God knoweth all. It is spent, I say, saving that I have provision for household in wheat, malt, beeves, and muttons, as much as would sustain my house this half year and more, if I should not go forth of

my diocese, and in this standeth much the stay of my house; for I am more inclined to feed many grossly and necessarily, than a few deliciously and voluptuously. As for plate and hangings, hath not cost me twenty shillings. In plate, my new-ycar's gifts doth my need with glass and byrral; and I delight more to feed hungry bellies than to clothe dead walls."

Dr. Latimer appears, after his resignation and his refusal to accept the new articles, to have been placed in the charge of Dr. Sampson, Bishop of Chichester, in whose power he remained until that prelate was sent to the Tower, when he regained his liberty. He was soon after severely injured by the fall of a tree, and compelled to visit London for medical aid. Here he was arrested and examined on a charge of having spoken against one or more of the Six Articles. Whether acquitted or not, he appears to have remained at large until 1546, when he was examined before the privy council and committed to the Tower, where he remained, in imminent peril of death, until the close of the reign of Henry.

CHAPTER XI.

ACCESSION OF EDWARD-LATIMER AT LAMBETH-SERMONS BEFORE THE KING-CHURCH PROPERTY—THE

HOMILIES-RESTITUTION-JOHN BRADFORD

THORPE-THE DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK.

EDW

GRIMS

DWARD THE SIXTH succeeded to the throne, January, 1547, at the age of ten years, under the guardianship of his uncle, the Lord Protector Somerset. A new turn was now given to affairs, for the head of the government was a Protestant.

Latimer was immediately set at liberty, and urged to resume his bishopric. This he declined, on account of his age and rapidly increasing infirmities. He now took up his residence, by his friend Cranmer's invitation, at Lambeth Palace, where he devoted himself to hearing the complaints of the poor and aggrieved who resorted thither for relief. He refers to these suitors in an earnest appeal to the King. "I cannot go to my book, for poor folks come unto me, desiring

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me that I will speak that their matters may be heard. I trouble my lord of Canterbury; and being at his house, now and then I walk in the garden, looking in my book, as I can do but little good at it. But something I must needs do to satisfy this place. I am no sooner in the garden, and have read awhile, but by-and-by cometh there some one or other knocking at the gate. Anon cometh my man, and saith: "Sir, there is one at the gate would speak with you.' When I come there, then it is some one or other that desireth me that I will speak that his matter might be heard, and that he hath lain this long at great cost and charges, and cannot once have his matter come to the hearing."

Latimer was appointed to preach before the King at the palace at Westminster. To accommodate the crowd of auditors, the pulpit was set up in the private garden opposite one of the windows, where the youthful monarch was placed. Free access was given to the space around the pulpit, and we find it, in old engravings of the scene, black with heads. Dr. Latimer was indefatigable in his favorite vocation, preaching for the most part twice a Sunday during Edward's reign.