inations. An agreement some time after was formed for a marriage
between Edward and Elizabeth, a daughter of France; and all the articles
were, after a little negotiation, fully settled:[**] but this project
never took effect.

* Burnet, vol. ii. p. 148. Hayward, p. 310, 811, 312. Rymer,
vol. xv. p. 211.

** Hayward, p. 318. Heylin, p. 104. Rymer, tom. xv. p. 293.

The intention of marrying the king to a daughter of Henry, a violent
persecutor of the Protestants, was nowise acceptable to that party in
England: but in all other respects the council was steady in promoting
the reformation, and in enforcing the laws against the Romanists.
Several prelates were still addicted to that communion; and though they
made some compliances, in order to save their bishoprics, they retarded,
as much as they safely could, the execution of the new laws, and gave
countenance to such incumbents as were negligent or refractory. A
resolution was therefore taken to seek pretences for depriving those
prelates; and the execution of this intention was the more easy, as
they had all of them been obliged to take commissions, in which it was
declared, that they held their sees during the king's pleasure only. It
was thought proper to begin with Gardiner, in order to strike a terror
into the rest. The method of proceeding against him was violent, and had
scarcely any color of law or justice. Injunctions had been given him to
inculcate in a sermon the duty of obedience to a king, even during his
minority; and because he had neglected this topic, he had been thrown
into prison, and had been there detained during two years, without being
accused of any crime except disobedience to this arbitrary command. The
duke of Somerset, Secretary Petre, and some others of the council, were
now sent, in order to try his temper, and endeavor to find some grounds
for depriving him: he professed to them his intention of conforming to
the government, of supporting the king's laws, and of officiating by
the new liturgy. This was not the disposition which they expected or
desired.[*] A new deputation was therefore sent, who carried him
several articles to subscribe. He was required to acknowledge his former
misbehavior, and to confess the justice of his confinement: he was
likewise to own, that the king was supreme head of the church; that
the power of making and dispensing with holydays was part of the
prerogative; that the book of common prayer was