was
to denounce the translation of the Bible and to condemn the Lutherans.
Certain "heretics" were marched through the cathedral in penitential
dresses, and carrying faggots, which they threw into the fire by the
great rood at the north door, in which Testaments and Lutheran tracts
were also burned. On this occasion, also, Fisher preached the sermon.
A few years later (1530), there was a similar holocaust, at which the
Bishop (Stokesley) presided.

But now came an event of momentous importance. Wolsey fell into
disgrace with the King, and, after some preliminary attacks, was
charged with high treason. From trial on this charge he was delivered
by death (November 28th, 1530). But he had brought the clergy
unwittingly into trouble. The law of _Praemunire_ forbade a man to
accept the office of papal legate in England, or the clergy to
recognise him. Wolsey had obtained a patent under the Great Seal to
exercise legatine authority, and for fifteen years no objection had
been taken. When he was indicted for the infringement of the law,
he refused to plead royal permission, fearing to incur yet greater
displeasure of the King. So judgment went by default. And now the
clergy were likewise impeached. They met in St. Paul's Chapter House,
and in their terror offered L100,000 fine, under the advice of the
Bishop. The King refused to accept this unless they recognised him
as "supreme head of the Church." Three days' discussion of this
proposition followed, then, on the proposal of Archbishop Warham, they
agreed to the following:--"of which Church and clergy we acknowledge
his Majesty to be the chief protector, the only supreme lord, and,
as far as the law of Christ will allow, the supreme head." Such a
compromise meant nothing, for it did not attempt to define what
the law of Christ on the subject was. But it was evident that the
Reformation had begun in earnest. Though nineteen Anabaptists were
condemned in St. Paul's to be burned, and on fourteen of them the
sentence was carried out, Paul's Cross echoed with renunciation of the
Pope's authority. The miraculous rood of Bexley, in Kent, having been
exposed as a fraud there, was brought up to Paul's Cross, February,
1538, and the mechanism having been shown to the indignant audience,
it was committed to the flames.

A more significant indication of the coming change was witnessed in
1541. In May of the previous year, King Henry issued a proclamation
that every parish in England s