getting the sacrifice of Calvary, dreamed of propitiations for sin offered by mass-priests, or who could not be contented to go to church without remaining there in ignorance of what the clergyman said. Such persons were greatly inspirited by the news of disturbances which poured in from all parts of the country, and, accordingly, many of them resorted secretly to places in which they might still hear mass. They were the more encouraged on observing, that Boner now generally absented himself from public worship on those days in which he had been used to be seen at church, and that he very rarely preached, or administered the Holy Communion. These omissions could not fail of being reported among the insurgent peasantry, and therefore they justly rendered the administration uneasy. Hence it was required of the Bishop peremptorily to put a stop to the irregularities which distinguished his cathedral. A letter, signed by the Protector, aud some other members of the council, enjoining this reformation, was no sooner brought to Boner, than he handed it over to Dr. May, the Dean of St. Paul's. Under that dignitary's directions, it seems, that the slightly-disguised masses were abolished for we hear no farther complaints upon the subject. The Bishop of London, however, was still narrowly watched, and an opinion prevailed, that he looked with an approving eye upon the principles and conduct of the rustic

Foxe, 1192.

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He entered the room in which they sat with his cap upon his head, as if he did not see them, and when one of those who stood by, pulling him by the sleeve, reminded him that it might be proper to take some respectful notice of the distinguished persons before him, he turned to Cranmer, and said with a laugh. "What are you here, my Lord? By my troth, I saw you not." "No," replied the Archbishop," you would not see." Well," rejoined Boner," you have sent for me here; have you any thing to say unto me?" "Yea," said the commissioners," we have here authority from the King's Highness to call you to account for neglecting, in your late sermon, to discourse upon that point which you were expressly commanded to handle." Of these words the accused prelate took no notice, but turning to Cranmer, he said, "In good faith, my Lord, I would one thing were had more in reverence than it is." The Primate asked, "Pray, what is that thing?" The reply was, "The blessed mass: a sacrament upon which your Grace has written very well", and I marvel much, that you do not honour it more.” To this Cranmer answered," If your Lordship think well of my book, it is because you understand it not.” Boner rejoined, "I think that I understand it better than yourself." Upon this the Archbishop said, "I could easily make a child of ten years old understand it better than you: but what is that

In the catechism prepared from the German. In this piece it may be recollected, is adopted the Lutheran view of the Eucharist.

to the purpose?" Business was then begun by a formal statement of the charges objected to the accused, and by an examination of the two principal witnesses. When their testimony was concluded, Boner utterly denied its truth, and turning them into ridicule, said, " One of them speaks like a goose, the other like a woodcock." Others were then called, who had been present at the delivery of the sermon under consideration, and interrogated as to whether the preacher had inculcated the duty of obedience to a minor King. A negative answer being given, the accused prelate turned round, and said, "Will you believe this fond people?" At length he drew from his bosom a protest in Latin, designating both the proceedings and the commissioners, as pretended, and reserving to himself the right of excepting against any thing that might be done in his case hereafter, upon the ground of his not having hitherto seen the commission. He then requested to see the written charges preferred against him, and having read them, he said that there was a vagueness about them which rendered a specific reply difficult. On this, the Archbishop observed, "The particular matter of complaint against your Lordship, is your having omitted to inculcate, upon a late occasion, the duty of obedience to a sovereign under age, according to the injunction delivered to you from the proper authority." Latimer and Hooper were now desired to come forward again, and to depose as to the particulars of what they heard at St. Paul's Cross. At the

close of their evidence, Boner, looking at them earnestly, thus broke forth: "As for this merchant, Latimer, I know him very well, and have borne with him, and winked at his evil doings a great while but I have more to say to him hereafter. But as touching this other merchant, Hooper, I have not seen him before: howbeit, I have heard much of his naughty preaching. Ah! my Lord of Canterbury, I see, that my present trouble is not for the matter pretended, but for my having asserted in my sermon the true presence of our Lord's blessed body and blood in the sacrament of the altar. Touching this sacrament, my accusers are manifest and notorious heretics; especially this Hooper. On the afternoon of the day in which I preached, this man having a great rabblement of his damnable sect about him, like an ass as he is, falsely said, that I had asserted the Lord's body and blood after sacramental consecration to be the very same as it hung, and as it was shed upon the cross. Whereas I preached and affirmed, that the true body and blood of our Saviour is in the Sacrament, the self same that was hung, and shed upon the cross." Cranmer then said, "My Lord of London, ye speak much of a presence in the Sacrament; what presence is there?" This question caused the blood to mount into Boner's face, and with considerable vehemence, he replied,

i Probably synonymous with chap, a contemptuous word, meaning properly much the same as merchant.

"What presence, my Lord? I say and believe, that there is the very true presence of the body and blood of Christ. What and how do you believe, my Lord?" The Archbishop rejoined: "Do you then believe, that in the Sacrament are present the Saviour's face, nose, eyes, lips, arms, and other members of his body?" Boner shook his head; and said, “Oh, I am right sorry to hear your Grace use such language." He then proposed to argue at greater length upon transubstantiation; but this was refused upon the ground, that the commissioners had assembled to execute the King's orders, not to moot a question of theology. When the accused found, that the business in hand was the only one to which his judges would attend, he desired, still protesting against the competence of the court, to be furnished with a copy of the commission issued against him, with another of the evidence tendered in support of the case, and to have some time allowed for the preparation of his defence. These demands were granted, and the court adjourned.

On the 13th of the same month, the commissioners met again in the Archbishop's chapel at Lambeth. Secretary Smyth now taking his place at the board, Boner objected to his presence as illegal, because he was absent on the former day. This objection, however, was over-ruled, and the Bishop entered upon his defence. This was plentifully garnished with invectives against Latimer and Hooper, whom he styled vile and infamous persons, justly excommunicated by the common