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and unscrupulous minister of an absolute monarch； bent on sweeping
away abuses of all kinds； but with the idea of enlarging the royal
authority as much； perhaps； as promoting the prosperity of the
realm。
He therefore turned his attention to the ecclesiastical courts；
which from the time of Becket had been antagonistic to royal
encroachments。 The war between the civil power and these courts
had begun before the fall of Wolsey； and had resulted in the
curtailment of probate duties； legacies； and mortuaries； by which
the clergy had been enriched。 A limitation of pluralities and
enforcement of residence had also been effected。 But a still
greater blow to the privileges of the clergy was struck by the
Parliament under the influence of Cromwell； who had elevated it in
order to give legality to the despotic measures of the Crown； and
in this way a law was passed that no one under the rank of a
subdeacon； if convicted of felony； should be allowed to plead his
〃benefit of clergy；〃 but should be punished like ordinary
criminals；thus re…establishing the constitutions of Clarendon in
the time of Becket。 Another act also was passed； by which no one
could be summoned； as aforetime； to the archbishop's court out of
his own diocese；a very beneficent act； since the people had been
needlessly subject to great expense and injustice in being obliged
to travel considerable distances。 It was moreover enacted that men
could not burden their estates beyond twenty years by providing
priests to sing masses for their souls。 The Parliament likewise
abolished annats；a custom which had long prevailed in Europe；
which required one year's income to be sent to the Pope on any new
preferment； a great burden to the clergy； a sort of tribute to a
foreign power。 Within fifty years； one hundred and sixty thousand
pounds had thus been sent from England to Rome； from this one
source of papal revenue alone；equal to three million pounds at
the present time； or fifteen millions of dollars； from a country of
only three millions of people。 It was the passage of that act
which induced Sir Thomas More （a devoted Catholic； but a just and
able and incorruptible judge） to resign the seals which he had so
long and so honorably held；the most prominent man in England
after Cromwell and Cranmer； and it was the execution of this lofty
character； because he held out against the imperious demands of
Henry； which is the greatest stain upon this monarch's reign。
Parliament also called the clergy to account for excessive acts of
despotism； and subjected them to the penalty of a premunire （the
offence of bringing a foreign authority into England）； from which
they were freed only by enormous fines。
Thus it would seem that many abuses were removed by Cromwell and
the Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII。 which may almost be
considered as reforms of the Church itself。 The authority of the
Church was not attacked； still less its doctrines； but only abuses
and privileges the restraint of which was of public benefit； and
which tended to reduce the power of the clergy。 It was this
reduction of clerical usurpations and privileges which is the main
feature in the legislation of Henry VIII。； so far as it pertained
to the Church。 It was wresting away the power which the clergy had
enjoyed from the days of Alfred and Ina；a reform which Henry II。
and Edward I。； and other sovereigns； had failed to effect。 This
was the great work of Cromwell； and in it he had the support of his
royal master； since it was a transfer of power from the clergy to
the throne； and Henry VIII。 was hated and anathematized by Rome as
Henry IV。 of Germany was； without ceasing to be a Catholic。 He
even retained the title of Defender of the Faith； which had been
conferred upon him by the Pope for his opposition to the
theological doctrines of Luther； which he never accepted； and which
he always detested。
Cromwell did not long survive the great services he rendered to his
king and the nation。 In the height of his power he made a fatal
mistake。 He deceived the King in regard to Anne of Cleves； whose
marriage he favored from motives of expediency and a manifest
desire to promote the Protestant cause。 He palmed upon the King a
woman who could not speak a word of English；a woman without
graces or accomplishments； who was absolutely hateful to him。
Henry's disappointment was bitter； and his vengeance was
unrelenting。 The enemies of Cromwell soon took advantage of this
mistake。 The great Duke of Norfolk； head of the Catholic party；
accused him at the council…board of high treason。 Two years
before； such a charge would have received no attention； but Henry
now hated him； and was resolved to punish him for the wreck of his
domestic happiness。
Cromwell was hurried to that gloomy fortress whose outlet was
generally the scaffold； he was denied even the form of trial。 A
bill of attainder was hastily passed by the Parliament he had
ruled。 Only one person in the realm had the courage to intercede
for him； and this was Cranmer； Archbishop of Canterbury； but his
entreaties were futile。 The fallen minister had no chance of life；
and no one knew it so well as himself。 Even a trial would have
availed nothing； nothing could have availed him；he was a doomed
man。 So he bade his foes make quick work of it； and quick work was
made。 In eighteen days from his arrest； Thomas Cromwell； Earl of
Essex； Knight of the Garter； Grand Chamberlain； Lord Privy Seal；
Vicar…General； and Master of the Wards； ascended the scaffold on
which had been shed the blood of a queen；making no protestation
of innocence； but simply committing his soul to Jesus Christ； in
whom he believed。 Like Wolsey； he arose from an humble station to
the most exalted position the King could give； and； like Wolsey； he
saw the vanity of delegated power as soon as he offended the source
of power。
〃He who ascends the mountain…tops shall find
The loftiest peak most wrapped in clouds and storms。
Though high above the sun of glory shines；
And far beneath the earth and ocean spread；
Round HIM are icy rocks； and loudly blow
Contending tempests on his naked head。〃
On the disappearance of Cromwell from the stage； Cranmer came
forward more prominently； he was a learned doctor in that
university which has ever sent forth the apostles of great
emancipating movements。 He was born in 1489； and was therefore
twenty years of age on the accession of Henry VIII。 in 1509； and
was twenty…eight when Luther published his theses。 He early
sympathized with the reform doctrines； but was too politic to take
an active part in their discussion。 He was a moderate； calm；
scholarly man； not a great genius or great preacher。 He had none
of those bold and dazzling qualities which attract the gaze of the
world。 We behold in him no fearless and impetuous Luther；
attacking with passionate earnestness the corruptions of Rome；
bracing himself up to revolutionary assaults； undaunted before
kings and councils； and giving no rest to his hands or slumber to
his eyes until he had consummated his protests；a man of the
people； yet a dictator to princes。 We see no severely logical
Calvin；pushing out his metaphysical deductions until he had
chained the intellect of his party to a system of incomparable
grandeur and yet of repulsive austerity； exacting all the while the
same allegiance to doctrines which he deduced from the writings of
Paul as he did to the direct declarations of Christ； next to Thomas
Aquinas； the acutest logician the Church has known； a system…maker；
like the great Dominican schoolmen； and their common master and
oracle； Saint Augustine of Hippo。 We see in Cranmer no
uncompromising and aggressive reformer like Knox；controlling by a
stern dogmatism both a turbulent nobility and an uneducated people；
and filling all classes alike with inextinguishable hatred of
everything that even reminded them of Rome。 Nor do we find in
Cranmer the outspoken and hearty eloquence of Latimer；appealing
to the people at St。 Paul's Cross to shake off all the trappings of
the 〃Scarlet Mother；〃 who had so long bewitched the world with her
sorceries。
Cranmer； if less eloquent； less fearless； less logical； less able
than these； was probably broader； more comprehensive in his views；
adapting his reforms to the circumstances of the age and country；
and to the genius of the English mind。 Hence his reforms； if less
brilliant； were more permanent。 He framed the creed that finally
was known as the Thirty…nine Articles； and was the true founder of
the English Church； as that Church has existed for more than three
centuries； neither Roman nor Puritan； but 〃half…way between Rome
and Geneva；〃 a compromise； and yet a Church of great vitality； and
endeared to the hearts of the English people。 Northern Germany
the scene of the stupendous triumphs of Lu