antations. But when,
after all, he was taken out to be burnt, he was nobly true to his better
self, and made a glorious end.

After prayers and a sermon, Dr. Cole, the preacher of the day (who had
been one of the artful priests about Cranmer in prison), required him to
make a public confession of his faith before the people. This, Cole did,
expecting that he would declare himself a Roman Catholic. 'I will make a
profession of my faith,' said Cranmer, 'and with a good will too.'

Then, he arose before them all, and took from the sleeve of his robe a
written prayer and read it aloud. That done, he kneeled and said the
Lord's Prayer, all the people joining; and then he arose again and told
them that he believed in the Bible, and that in what he had lately
written, he had written what was not the truth, and that, because his
right hand had signed those papers, he would burn his right hand first
when he came to the fire. As for the Pope, he did refuse him and
denounce him as the enemy of Heaven. Hereupon the pious Dr. Cole cried
out to the guards to stop that heretic's mouth and take him away.

So they took him away, and chained him to the stake, where he hastily
took off his own clothes to make ready for the flames. And he stood
before the people with a bald head and a white and flowing beard. He was
so firm now when the worst was come, that he again declared against his
recantation, and was so impressive and so undismayed, that a certain
lord, who was one of the directors of the execution, called out to the
men to make haste! When the fire was lighted, Cranmer, true to his
latest word, stretched out his right hand, and crying out, 'This hand
hath offended!' held it among the flames, until it blazed and burned
away. His heart was found entire among his ashes, and he left at last a
memorable name in English history. Cardinal Pole celebrated the day by
saying his first mass, and next day he was made Archbishop of Canterbury
in Cranmer's place.

The Queen's husband, who was now mostly abroad in his own dominions, and
generally made a coarse jest of her to his more familiar courtiers, was
at war with France, and came over to seek the assistance of England.
England was very unwilling to engage in a French war for his sake; but it
happened that the King of France, at this very time, aided a descent upon
the English coast. Hence, war was declared, greatly to Philip's
satisfaction; and the Queen raised a sum of money