special attack, and many who had separated from their wives were deprived of their livings. It is supposed that sixteen vacancies occurred on the episcopal bench in consequence of the orders and injunctions put forth at this time; and of course these were soon filled by zealous Romanists. An immense number of priests, variously estimated at from one-fourth to three-fourths of the whole, were also deprived. In short, a very savage persecution assailed those who rejected the papal supremacy. Through the zeal of the "bloody Bonner" the fires of Smithfield blazed continually. According to Short 270, and according to Burnett 284, persons perished in the flames, and multitudes were driven into exile.* Distinguished Marian Martyrs. 71. A detailed account of that noble army of martyrs who suffered in the reign of Mary comes not within the scope of this small work: it must be sought for in the pages of John Fox. But we may here briefly advert to a few of the more distinguished.-John Rogers, the supposed translator of" Matthew's Bible," Vicar of St. Sepulchre, London, * Divisions arose among these exiles. Some of them were for dispensing with the surplice and the litany, and for not saying the responses aloud. John Knox headed this party; and Cox, the late king's tutor, was the principal person among those who were for retaining the proper English services. At Frankfort the con- MARY. Pole. Marcellus II. and clergy? What number of persons are supposed to have perished in the flames in the persecution which now ensued? *[Note] Give an account of the divisions which arose amongst the Reformers who were driven into exile. 71. Give a short account of some of the more distinguished Marian martyrs. Who was the first victim in Mary's reign? When and where was Hooper burnt? What were the charges against him? Give some account of the lives MARY. Pole. Paul IV. A.D. 1555. was the first victim whose blood cemented England's alliance with the pope. He was burnt in Smithfield on the 4th of February, 1555.-Next day Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, was removed from London to that city, where he was burnt on the 9th of February, for denying the corporal presence, and refusing to separate from his wife. The wood was green, and he suffered prolonged agonies with admirable constancy.-On the same day Rowland Taylor was burnt at Hadleigh, Suffolk, of which place he was rector. -Bishop Ferrar suffered in the market-place of Carmarthen, on the 30th of March.-John Bradford, committed to prison on the charge of exciting a disturbance which he had in fact assisted to allay, when Bonner's chaplain attacked the measures of Edward's reign at St. Paul's, was brought to the stake in Smithfield, after fruitless attempts to make him recant, on the 1st of July. The history of Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley is a common one.-Thomas Cranmer was born at Aslacton, Nottinghamshire, in 1489. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship, which he vacated by marriage. His wife, however, died in a short time, when he was re-elected Fellow of Jesus College, and charged by the University with the examination of candidates for the Divinity degree. When the plague visited Cambridge in 1529 he retired with two of his pupils to the house of their father at Waltham Cross, and was there introduced to Henry VIII., as recorded in the foregoing pages. In 1533 he succeeded Warham as Archbishop of Canterbury. Hugh Latimer, of Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, and of the proceedings against them in the reign of Mary. Upon what charge were they first imprisoned? What were the questions submitted to them in the disputation at Oxford? Which of the Nicholas Ridley was born born at Thurcaston, Leicestershire, in 1470, was a disciple (1) Whether the natural body of Christ is really in the sacrament? (3) Whether in the mass there is a sacrifice and propitiation for the sins both of the living and the dead? A.D. 1554. Cranmer disputed on the 16th of April, 1554, Ridley on the 17th, and Latimer on the MARY. Pole. Paul IV. Reformers took the lead? What line of argument did Ridley take? How MARY. Pole. Paul IV. 18th. An impartial hearing was out of the question : taunts, hisses, and personal insults supplied to the dominant party the place of argument. "It was. one of those cowardly contests," says Professor Blunt, "ubi tu cædis, ego vapulo tantum;' where one strikes, and the other must be content to be smitten." The glory of the contest rested with Ridley, rather than the other two: throughout he adhered to one line of argument, explaining all the authorities advanced against him of the spiritual presence only. Two days after the last disputation, all three were brought to St. Mary's Church, and declining to recant were condemned as heretics. But their execution was delayed, in the case of Latimer and Ridley for eighteen months, and in that of Cranmer for five months longer still, which time they employed in promoting the glory of God and the good of their generation.* Indeed, the sentence had been pronounced without authority, for there was no statute in force which made a denial of transubstantiation penal. It was requisite, therefore, that proceedings should commence anew: accordingly on the 12th of September 1555, Cranmer appeared at St. Mary's before Bishop Brooks, of Gloucester, sitting as papal legate, and at the close of the proceedings was cited to appear at Rome within eighty days, this formality being necessary before a metropolitan could be condemned. Latimer and Ridley were cited before papal delegates on the 30th of September ; A.D. 1555. After their condemnation, | persons, but Cranmer was kept Latimer and Ridley were com- in the prison called Bocardo, at mitted to the custody of private | Oxford. long did the bishops survive the discussion ? Why was their execution delayed? Give an account of the burning of Latimer and Ridley. Write and continuing inflexible, were condemned and pronounced excommunicate. On the 15th of October, they were formally degraded; and on the following morning conducted to the place of suffering in the town ditch, opposite Balliol College, where they were burnt, Latimer exclaiming when the lighted faggot was applied, "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day, by God's grace, light such a candle in England as, I trust, shall never be put out."* Meanwhile the last sands of Cranmer were rapidly running out. Long before the eighty days allowed for his appearance at Rome had expired, letters arrived authorizing his condemnation and deliverance to the secular arm; and on the 14th of December he was degraded by Bonner and Thirlby with much brutality. Had Cranmer been led at once to the stake, he would doubtless have crowned a consistent testimony by an honourable martyrdom. But his enemies endeavoured, too successfully, to prevail upon him to sign a recantation. All at once an unusual interest was manifested in him by the University authorities; he was invited rom his gloomy prison of Bocardo to the mansion of the Dean of Christchurch, where hopes were held out that the queen only desired such a retractation as might justify her in extending to him the clemency she earnestly desired to exercise. To these things were added the entreaties of his former Julius Palmer, Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, an obstinate asserter of Romish principles, witnessed the death of Latimer and Ridley, and their MARY. Pole. Paul IV. down the memorable dying words of Latimer. *[Note.] What was the effect of the death of Latimer and Ridley upon Julius Palmer? Give a brief account of Cranmer during the reign of Mary. What is the date of his execution? |