Gardiner hoped that this simultaneous display of papal ferocity, upon such eminent and excellent characters, would have at once silenced the Protestants. But he was mistaken. The people openly rejoiced in the constancy displayed by Rogers, the first of" the noble army of martyrs" of this reign, so that the French ambassador wrote the same day, saying the people did not fear to strengthen him by their acclamations, and even his children stood by consoling him, so that it seemed as though they were conducting him to a joyful marriage. The Christian bearing of the sufferers, and the sympathy of the crowds who stood round the burning piles, showed that then, as in earlier ages, the blood of the martyrs would be the seed of the church. Gardiner shrunk from the results of his own proceedings, laid the blame upon the queen, and left the further conduct of these persecutions to more rugged minds. Bonner did not object to the task. We may use the metaphorical language of the poet : "When persecuting zeal made royal sport Received the seal of martyrdom in blood."-CowrER. It is stated, that he was wont to say, "Let me once lay hold of these heretics, and if they escape me, God do so and more to Bonner." His first proceedings at once showed that the persecution was to be carried into every rank of life; none were too high to be reached, none so low as to be overlooked. In a few days Bonner examined and condemned six; a butcher, a weaver, a barber, a country gentleman, an apprentice, and a parish priest; but the voice of the people was loudly expressed; even Gardiner blamed him for dealing so cruelly by honest men. Philip saw that much unpopularity would fall upon himself; he therefore directed his confessor, a friar who had himself been a notorious persecutor, to preach before the court, and blame the putting heretics to death. Bonner was checked for a time, though in a few months the persecution was resumed; and even in that month bishop Farrar was burned in Wales. Another public exhibition was made in February. Viscount Montague, and the bishop of Ely, passed through the streets of London with their train, beginning their journey to Rome as ambassadors to the pope. The next embassy from England to Rome was in the reign of James II. At the end of March, the queen sent for the lord treasurer and other councillors, to whom she declared her remorse, not for causing holy and exemplary men to be burned, but because the crown still possessed some abbey lands, which she desired to resign, committing the disposal of them to the pope and his legate! It is to be observed that, while the parliament guaranteed the possession of these lands to the holders, and the legate gave his sanction thereto, the pope issued a bull excommunicating all persons who continued to hold such property. This was, as Foxe styles it, "a catholic fetch." The immediate result was the formation of some monastic establishments by the queen. The pope Julius 111. did not live to see the effects of this bull. He died March the 20th, and left behind him the record, that the pope to whom England, under queen Mary, submitted to be reconciled, was one of the vilest among the many depraved characters included in the list of popes. There is no occasion to insert any of the blasphemies for which he was notorious. After Easter the burnings were resumed; the sufferings of the martyrs are amply related by Foxe and others. In March, a proclamation was addressed to the justices, commanding that persons should secretly be appointed in every parish, to watch over and give private information of the proceedings of any Protestants. Here was a great step towards establishing an inquisition. In May, a letter was addressed to Bonner, in the name of Philip and Mary, complaining that he had "suffered persons to continue in their errors,' who had been sent to him by justices agreeably to the proclamation. He was ordered in future to proceed against such characters as "a good pastor and bishop” ought to do. Bonner had for a short interval sickened of his work, but this stimulated him to proceed: perhaps he desired it as a convenient authority for him to plead. But the principal cause for urging forward the course of cruelties, was the anxiety of the queen for the birth of a child! She had for some time expected to be a mother at this season; she was anxious for a safe deliverance, and thought to win the favour of God by persecuting his people! But He had mercy in store for England, and would not suffer such a stock to be fruitful. After a lengthened period of expectation, during which thanksgivings for her safe deliverance were offered up in many places, and the beauties of her child described from the pulpits, it was found that the queen was seriously diseased, and never likely to be a mother. The names of many martyrs who suffered in June are recorded. Among them were Bradford and Cardmaker. The burning of the former excited a strong sensation. Few of the inhabitants of London closed their eyes during the preceding night. A new pope, Marcellus II., had been elected. He seems to have been a more worthy character than the generality of Romish prelates, but he only held the see during three weeks. Paul Iv., who then succeeded to the papal chair, received the English ambassadors. At first he hesitated to do this, as Mary retained the title of sovereign of Ireland, assumed by her father after his quarrel with the see of Rome. But an expedient was devised. The pope asserted his authority to be the earthly power by which alone kings could reign, by declaring Ireland to be a kingdom, and Mary to be queen of it by his appointment! He then received the ambassadors outwardly with a gracious air, but he told them in private, that the abbey lands must be restored, and the tribute from England formerly paid to the popes, called Peter-pence, being a penny for every chimney in England, must be again duly collected. In June, a severe proclamation was issued, forbidding all persons to keep in their possession any books contrary to the decrees of popery. Many works were pointed out by name; in addition to those of Luther, and the leading Reformers, both English and foreign, works relating to the service books of the late king, and also Hall's Chronicle, which was particular in the account of the reign of Henry VIII., were forbidden all these books were to be given up in fifteen days to the bishops or other officers. But the Protestants were still very active in disseminating the truth. Many little tracts, exposing the errors of popery, were printed in foreign countries, and brought over to England, where they were privately distributed, or cast about the streets at night. Some bore the imprint of Rome, probably that unlearned informers might suppose them to be popish books. On October 16th, bishop Ridley and bishop Latimer were burned at Oxford. The spot where they suffered is still pointed out in the front of Baliol College. The words of Latimer to his fellow sufferer when at the stake are too memorable to be omitted: "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." Let us remember this address, and also bear in mind the solemn charge of our Saviour to the church of Sardis: "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy," Rev. iii. 3, 4. The death of Gardiner quickly followed the last sufferings of these martyrs. He delayed his meal till he could receive the tidings of fire being set to their pile. While feasting, he felt the approach of a mortal disease, the consequence of his vicious course of life. He was able to attend to his official duties a few days longer, when his body became so noisome that it was difficult to get any one to attend him. He suffered severely in mind, repeatedly exclaiming, "I have sinned like Peter; but I have not repented like him!" In his last moments, he expressed decided enmity against the doctrines of grace, yet showed that he was convinced of their truth. Thus the first of the wretched leaders of the English persecution was called to his solemn account. many Gardiner had opposed Pole in many matters; he desired the primacy for himself, and therefore often checked the proceedings of the cardinal. Pole now remained the chief adviser of Mary. He left the details of persecution to subordinate agents; but in ways showed his earnest desire that the kingdom should be fully reconciled to Rome. Among other matters, the proceedings against Cranmer were pressed forward. Although he was examined with Ridley and Latimer, some months elapsed before the arrangements respecting him were completed. Bonner took an active part Ꭱ |
