1555.-Archbishop Cranmer's letter to the Queen........ 493 THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY. CHAPTER I. Mary retires to Kenninghall-Her letter to the Council-Lady Jane Grey-She is proclaimed Queen-Northumberland's arrangements in support of her pretensions—Mary assumes the Sovereignty-The conspiracy in her favour-The Lady Jane relinquishes her pretensions—Mary's entry into London -King Edward's funeral-The Queen pledges herself to toleration-Tumult at St. Paul's Cross-Trial of Northumberland-His execution—Severities against Protestants— Archbishop Cranmer prepares for adversity-He vindicates himself from calumny-He is imprisoned in the TowerBishop Gardiner appointed to the Chancellorship-Commendone's mission-Cardinal Pole's correspondence-His journey to Dillingen-Matrimonial negociations between Mary and Philip of Spain-Gardiner's anxiety to prevent the premature return of Pole-The Queen's coronation-Removal of the foreign Protestants-The Romish service illegally introduced -The Queen's first Parliament-Trial and attainder of the Lady Jane, Cranmer, and others-The Archbishop's letter to the Queen-The Convocation-Debate upon Transubstantiation-Treaty for the Queen's marriage-Dissatisfaction of the nation-Wyat's rebellion-Execution of the Lady JaneOther executions-The Spirit in the Wall-Mr. Justice Hales -The Queen's injunctions-Deprivation of the Protestant bishops-Persecution of the married clergy-The Queen's second Parliament. SHORT as the late reign had been, it did not close before the Reformation was so far complete as to afford enquiring minds ample means of estimating its value. The Sacred Record had been honestly unlocked, and the Church relieved from every principle and usage incapable of solid justification from that infallible authority. For conciliating quickly and fully the popular admiration of a system so securely founded, nothing was better calculated than an opportunity of contrasting it with the worst features of the system which it had superseded. The new reign rendered this important service to the mighty cause of scriptural truth. Oppression and misery soon overspread every corner of the land, and the memory of a princess, personally virtuous, has descended to posterity with a traditional note of infamy. Her infatuated counsels were generally charged upon the religion which she professed, and hence, when the voice of authority again called Englishmen to the unquestionable faith of apostles and evangelists, it was obeyed with an alacrity never seen before. Edward's case having become desperate, a letter was despatched from the council, in the royal name, to the Lady Mary, summoning her to court, as it was alleged, for the purpose of comforting her brother in his sickness. The Princess received this call with pleasure, and immediately proceeded towards the metropolis. Being arrived at Hunsdon ", she was apprised of the King's real state, and therefore, naturally suspecting some sinister intent on the part of those who had required her attendance, she Heylin, Hist. Ref. 154. Hayward, 327. a b |