nt to their party; and the subsequent events corresponded to their
expectations. The king's councils being now directed by Norfolk and
Gardiner, a furious persecution commenced against the Protestants; and
the law of the six articles was executed with rigor. Dr. Barnes, who had
been the cause of Lambert's execution, felt, in his turn, the severity
of the persecuting spirit; and, by a bill which passed in parliament,
he was, without trial, condemned to the flames, together with Jerome and
Gerrard. He discussed theological questions even at the stake; and as
the dispute between him and the sheriff turned upon the invocation of
saints, he said, that he doubted whether the saints could pray for
us; but if they could, he hoped in half an hour to be praying for the
sheriff and all the spectators. He next entreated the sheriff to carry
to the king his dying request, which he fondly imagined would have
authority with that monarch who had sent him to the stake. The purport
of his request was, that Henry, besides repressing superstitious
ceremonies, should be extremely vigilant in preventing fornication and
common swearing.[*]

While Henry was exerting this violence against the Protestants, he
spared not the Catholics who denied his supremacy; and a foreigner, at
that time in England, had reason to say, that those who were against the
pope were burned, and those who were for him were hanged.[**] The king
even displayed in an ostentatious manner this tyrannical impartiality,
which reduced both parties to subjection, and infused terror into every
breast. Barnes, Gerrard, and Jerome had been carried to the place of
execution on three hurdles; and along with them there was placed on
each hurdle a Catholic, who was also executed for his religion. These
Catholics were Abel, Fetherstone, and Powel, who declared, that the
most grievous part of their punishment was the being coupled to such
heretical miscreants as suffered with them.[***]

* Burnet, vol. i. p. 298. Fox.

** Fox, vol. ii, p. 529.

*** Saunders, de Schism. Angl.

Though the spirit of the English seemed to be totally sunk under the
despotic power of Henry, there appeared some symptoms of discontent.
An inconsiderable rebellion broke out in Yorkshire, headed by Sir John
Nevil; but it was soon suppressed, and Nevil, with other ringleaders,
was executed.

The rebels were supposed to have been instigated by the intrigues
of Cardinal Pole; and the king was i