the warrant for
her execution. Cranmer was employed to persuade him to compliance;
and he said, that there was a great difference between errors in other
points of divinity, and those which were in direct contradiction to
the apostles' creed: these latter were impieties against God, which
the prince, being God's deputy, ought to repress, in like manner, as
inferior magistrates were bound to punish offences against the king's
person. Edward, overcome by importunity, at last submitted, though with
tears in his eyes; and he told Cranmer, that if any wrong were done, the
guilt should lie entirely on his head. The primate, after making a new
effort to reclaim the woman from her errors, and finding her obstinate
against all his arguments, at last committed her to the flames. Some
time after, a Dutchman, called Van Paris, accused of the heresy which
has received the name of Arianism, was condemned to the same punishment.
He suffered with so much satisfaction, that he hugged and caressed the
fagots that were consuming him; a species of frenzy of which there is
more than one instance among the martyrs of that age.[**]

These rigorous methods of proceeding soon brought the whole nation to a
conformity, seeming or real, with the new doctrine and the new liturgy.
The lady Mary alone continued to adhere to the mass, and refused to
admit the established modes of worship. When pressed and menaced on
this head, she applied to the emperor, who, using his interest with
Sir Philip Hobby, the English ambassador, procured her a temporary
connivance from the council.[***]

* Burnet, vol. ii. coll. 35 Strype's Mem. Cranm. p. 181.

** Burnet, vol. ii. p. 112. Strype's Mem. Cranm. p. 181.

*** Heylin, p. 102

CHAPTER XXXV

EDWARD VI.

{1549.} There is no abuse so great in civil society, as not to be
attended with a variety of beneficial consequence; and in the beginnings
of reformation, the loss of these advantages is always felt very
sensibly, while the benefit, resulting from the change is the slow
effect of time, and is seldom perceived by the bulk of a nation. Scarce
any institution can be imagined less favorable, in the main, to the
interests of mankind than that of monks and friars; yet was it followed
by many good effects, which, having ceased by the suppression of
monasteries, were much regretted by the people of England. The monks,
always residing in their convents, in the centre of their estates