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CHAPTER XIII.

1539.

Dissolution of the greater monasteries—The Romish party ascendant-Gardiner and the duke of Norfolk in great favour with the king-Gardiner's sermon against the ReformersNew foundations of cathedrals-The Act of the Six Articles -Cranmer's opposition to it-The opinion of the foreign Reformers upon it-The book of ceremonies-Anne of ClevesCranmer's letters respecting her.

THE dissolution of the greater monasteries was resolved on in 1539, and before the spring of 1540 was effected. But the conduct of the king towards the Reformers was changed. Gardiner was now in favour with Henry, and was required by him to preach at Paul's Cross during Lent. The king's attachment to the Romish doctrines was thus to be proclaimed. On the first Sunday of Lent, in 1539, the preacher accordingly scrupled not to attack the labours of Cranmer and his party in a manner, which he appears to have thought wonderfully happy. From an accomplished scholar, as Gardiner certainly was,

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one could hardly have expected such worthless oratory. It might indeed be intended as a sharp defiance to the men of the new learning; and, like the challenge of Sir Andrew Ague-cheek, "there is certainly vinegar and pepper in it." But the Reformers would despise it. gathered my wittes to me," he says, "called for grace, and determined to declare the gospell of that sondaye, conteynynge the devill's three temptations, the matter whereof semed to me very apte to be applyed to the tyme, and good occasion to note the abuse of scripture among some, as the devyl abused it to Christ; which matter in dede I touched somewhat playnly, and in my judgement truly. And alludinge to the temptation of the devyll to Christ to cast himselfe downewarde, alleging scripture, that he should take no hurte, I sayde, Nowadayes the devill tempteth the world, and byddeth them cast themselfe backeward. There is no forward in the newe teaching, but all backwarde. Now the devill teacheth, Come back from fastynge, come back from praying, come back from confession, come back from weepinge for thy synnes, and all is backewarde; insomuch as he must lerne to say his pater-noster backward!"

1 From his Declaration of such Articles as George Joye hath gone about to confute as false. In the margin of fol. v. a. Gardiner calls this "a part of his sermon at Paul's Crosse the fyrst sonday of lent, mdxxxix."

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The prelates of the new learning, with Cranmer at the head of them, were now unwilling to consent in parliament, that to the sole use of the king the large revenues of the religious houses should be assigned. Such lands, as his royal ancestors had given to any of those houses, they were not disposed to deny him. The rest they were desirous to bestow upon hospitals, grammar-schools, and cathedrals under new regulations; and in part their desire was gratified. The institutions of some cathedrals were altered, and new bishoprics were founded. The project of an altered endowment in Cranmer's own cathedral of Canterbury appears to have been planned by Cromwell, and by him to have been submitted to the archbishop, who then objected to the admission of prebendaries into that and all the royal foundations, "their state," he said, "having been so excessively abused, that when learned men had been advanced to that post, they desisted from their studies and from all godly exercises of preaching and teaching." Of the new foundation, however, prebends formed a part; and the office was by himself maintained with additional honour, in causing his chaplain, Nicholas Rid

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2 Burnet. Strype. The preamble of a Bill to this purpose is given by Ridley, Life of Bishop Ridley, p. 131. 3 Letter to Cromwell. Burnet, iii. Rec. No. 65. Le Neve, Fasti. Ridley's Life of Bishop Ridley.

ley, afterwards his fellow-martyr, to obtain one of the first.

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To the fall of the monasteries there was now no especial opposition by Gardiner, or the duke of Norfolk, who at this time was prime minister. Hence it has been well said, that by the Romish party the point was carried. To the views of that party Henry was certainly now devoted. Prompted by them, he directed that a committee should be appointed by the lords to examine the existing differences of religious opinions, and to form articles for a general agreement. On the Romish side were the archbishop of York, the bishops of Durham, Bath and Wells, Carlisle, and Bangor; on the Reformed, the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishops of Ely and Salisbury, and Cromwell the vice-gerent. Their attendance in the house upon other business was dispensed with till they should come to a conclusion; but they were recommended to be expeditious. Eleven days, however, elapsed in mutual opposition. The duke of Norfolk, with the bitter propositions in his hand against the Reformers, then acquainted the lords, that as by the committee no progress had been made, by himself the abolition of the diversity of opinions would be submitted to their judgment. He therefore read the following propositions.

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Neve, Animadv. on Phillips's Life of Cardinal Pole, p. 280. 2 Burnet. Strype.

I. Whether in the Eucharist the real body of Christ was present without any transubstantiation.

II. Whether that sacrament was to be given to the laity in both kinds.

III. Whether the vows of chastity, made either by men or women, ought to be observed by the Law of God.

IV. Whether by the Law of God private masses ought to be celebrated.

V. Whether priests by the Law of God might marry.

VI. Whether auricular confession were necessary by the Law of God.

Against most of these propositions Cranmer argued in the negative. Such is the account of Foxe, lord Herbert, Burnet, and even Collier. His own assertions, afterwards, first to the Devonshire rebels, and then to Gardiner, appear to justify their report. To the former he said, "that these articles were so enforced by the evil counsel of certain papists against the truth and common judgment both of divines and lawyers, that if the king's Majesty himself had not come personally into the parliament-house, those laws had never passed:" To the latter, being reminded. by him of the clergy (who were indeed required to read them in their churches) having assented

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1 Strype, Life of Cranm. Append. No. 40.

It has been pretended by Romanists that Cranmer signed these Articles. No, says Burnet, never; nor was there any

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