eed well. "After two days he came again with a much pleasanter
countenance, and meeting with me before he came to my lord, said unto me,
that he had adventured to put in his foot where he trusted shortly to be
better regarded or all were done." He had stopped the progress of the
impeachment in the Lower House, and was answering the articles one by one.
In the evening he rode down to Esher for instructions. In the morning he
was again at his place in Parliament; and he conducted the defence so
skilfully, that finally he threw out the bill, saved Wolsey, and himself
"grew into such estimation in every man's opinion, for his honest behaviour
in his master's cause, that he was esteemed the most faithfullest servant,
[and] was of all men greatly commended."[590]

Henry admired his chivalry, and perhaps his talent. The loss of Wolsey had
left him without any very able man, unless we may consider Sir Thomas More
such, upon his council, and he could not calculate on More for support in
his anti-Roman policy; he was glad, therefore, to avail himself of the
service of a man who had given so rare a proof of fidelity, and who had
been trained by the ablest statesman of the age.[591]

To Wolsey Cromwell could render no more service except as a friend, and his
warm friend he remained to the last. He became the king's secretary,
representing the government in the House of Commons, and was at once on the
high road to power. I cannot call him ambitious; an ambitious man would
scarcely have pursued so refined a policy, or have calculated on the
admiration which he gained by adhering to a fallen minister. He did not
seek greatness--greatness rather sought him as the man in England most fit
to bear it. His business was to prepare the measures which were to be
submitted to Parliament by the government. His influence, therefore, grew
necessarily with the rapidity with which events were ripening; and when the
conclusive step was taken, and the king was married, the virtual conduct of
the Reformation passed into his hands. His Protestant tendencies were
unknown as yet, perhaps, even to his own conscience; nor to the last could
he arrive at any certain speculative convictions. He was drawn towards the
Protestants as he rose into power by the integrity of his nature, which
compelled him to trust only those who were honest like himself.

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VI

WILL OF THOMAS CROMWELL--1529.

In the name of God, Amen. The 12th day of July,