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The answer of the lords, who had deserted Somerset, occasioned the delay of their plan only a a few days; for on the twelfth of October they came to Windsor, and on the fourteenth conducted him thence a prisoner to the Tower. He acknowledged the numerous offences with which he was charged, and humbly implored a pardon. In the following February he was indeed released from his confinement, but deprived of the protectorate; and in April was restored to a seat in the Council. During eighteen months this conciliation lasted. On new charges he was then again arrested. His objects, it was stated, were to regain by treasonable means the power he had lost; and to assassinate his successor in that power, Warwick, afterwards advanced to the dukedom of Northumberland. Of the treasonable accusation he was acquitted of the felonious he was convicted, and that brought him to the block. While in his first imprisonment, he appears to have profited by a little treatise translated from the German, by Miles Coverdale, the friend of Cranmer, probably at Cranmer's request, by whom too, we may believe it to have been recommended to his noble friend. The title of the little volume, which has often been reprinted, is " A spiritual and precious pearl, teaching all men to live and embrace the

and bodie of the king's maiesties counsayle, now assembled at London, conteyning the very trouth of the duke of Somerset's evel government, and false and detestable proceedinges."

Cross, as a most sweet and necessary thing unto the soul; and what comfort is to be taken thereof, and also where and how both consolation, and aid, in all manner of afflictions, is to be sought." By some writers the duke is said to have procured the translation of the original into English. Others have attributed to him the whole composition. He certainly wrote a preface to an edition of the book, in the May after he was released: but therein he appears to admit that the copy of the work, which he had read, was in our own language. Of the author thus he speaks, in the true spirit of a Reformer: "This man, whosoever he be that was the 'first author of this book, goeth the right way to work he bringeth his ground from God's Word.-In our great trouble, which of late did happen unto us, (as all the world doth know,) when it pleased God for a time to attempt us with his scourge, and to prove if we loved Him, in reading this book we did find great comfort.And hereupon we have required him, of whom we had the copy of this book, to set it forth in print." To this edition, in the year 1550, was subjoined, "A humble petition to the Lord, practised in the common prayer of the whole family at Shene, during the trouble of their lord and master, the duke of Somerset; gathered and set forth by

Otho Wermylierus, a learned German preacher at Zurich. Ames, 262. Dibdin, iv. 298. M 2

VOL. II.

Thomas Becon, minister there." Becon was another of Cranmer's friends, and eminent among our Reformers.

But while the duke was a prisoner in 1549, Calvin addressed "an epistle of godly consolation" to him, not because of his misfortune, but "before the time or knowledge had of his trouble, yet delivered to him during that time," in which he translated the letter, which was in French, into English, and allowed it to be published in April 1550. The hours of his confinement were also rendered less irksome by a long consolatory epistle from Peter Martyr. The Reformers then trembled indeed for the cause which he had supported. To that cause he continued firm to the last. When on the scaffold, he reminded the spectators of the religion, "3 which so long as I was in authority," said he, " I always diligently set forth and furthered to my power. Neither repent I of my doings, but rejoice therein, since now the state of Christian religion cometh most near unto the form and order of the Primitive Church; which thing I esteem as a great benefit, given of God both unto you and me, most heartily exhorting you all that this, which is most purely set forth unto you, you will with like thankfulness accept

1 Ames, 207. Dibdin, iii. 495. Calvin's letter is dated October 22, 1549.

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and embrace, and set out the same in your living."

Besides Cranmer and those who favoured the Reformation, the lower classes in general were warmly attached to Somerset. He was the poor man's friend. To hear and redress their grievances, was one of the honours of his administration. His enemies cavilled even at this good work. "Great clamour was raised against him," as lord Orford gathers it from Strype, "for a merit of the most beautiful nature; this was his setting up a court of requests in his own house, to hear the petitions and suits of poor men; and upon the compassion he took of their oppressions; if he ended not their business, he would send his letters to chancery in their favour."

1

1 Eccl. Mem. ii. 183. Royal and Noble Authors, i. 285.

CHAPTER VII.

1549 to 1550.

The old missals and other service-books called in-The new form of ordaining bishops, priests, and deacons-Ponet, the first prelate consecrated by it—Account of him, and of his work, entitled Defence of the Marriages of Priests— Letter to Cranmer on the Celibacy of the Clergy-The Epistles of Ignatius referred to on the subject-Cranmer's and Ridley's treatises against Roman Catholic traditions-Treatise of Bertram against Transubstantiation — Treatises against the Mass-The Book of Herman, archbishop of Cologne-Destruction of libraries-Leland, Bale, and Cran

mer.

ELATED as the Romanists were when the power of Somerset was first humbled, they were also induced to think, that then there would be no impediment to the return of services and rituals that had been forbidden. By his influence only, they considered the new service-book to have been enacted. Cranmer immediately prepared to suppress their hopes; and occasioned a letter to be sent at Christmas, by the king and Council to the

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