produced against the marquis of Exeter and his associates.[*]

* Herbert in Kennet, p. 216.

CHAPTER XXXII.

HENRY VIII.

{1538.} THE rough hand of Henry seemed well adapted for rending asunder
those bands by which the ancient superstition had fastened itself on
the kingdom; and though, after renouncing the pope's supremacy and
suppressing monasteries, most of the political ends of reformation
were already attained, few people expected that he would stop at those
innovations. The spirit of opposition, it was thought, would carry him
to the utmost extremities against the church of Rome; and lead him
to declare war against the whole doctrine and worship, as well as
discipline, of that mighty hierarchy. He had formerly appealed from
the pope to a general council; but now, when a general council was
summoned to meet at Mantua, he previously renounced all submission to
it, as summoned by the pope, and lying entirely under subjection to that
spiritual usurper. He engaged his clergy to make a declaration to the
like purpose; and he had prescribed to them many other deviations
from ancient tenets and practices. Cranmner took advantage of every
opportunity to carry him on in this course; and while Queen Jane lived,
who favored the reformers, he had, by means of her insinuation and
address, been successful in his endeavors. After her death, Gardiner,
who was returned from his embassy to France, kept the king more in
suspense; and by feigning an unlimited submission to his will, was
frequently able to guide him to his own purposes. Fox, bishop of
Hereford, had supported Cranmer in his schemes for a more thorough
reformation; but his death had made way for the promotion of Bonner,
who, though he had hitherto seemed a furious enemy to the court of Rome,
was determined to sacrifice every thing to present interest, and
had joined the confederacy of Gardiner and the partisans of the old
religion. Gardiner himself, it was believed, had secretly entered into
measures with the pope, and even with the emperor; and in concert
with these powers, he endeavored to preserve, as much as possible, the
ancient faith and worship.

Henry was so much governed by passion, that nothing could have retarded
his animosity and opposition against Rome, but some other passion, which
stopped his career, and raised him new objects of animosity. Though he
had gradually, since the commencement of his scruples with regard to his
first m