按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
felt both grief and shame in view of his apostasy。 His last hours
were glorious。 Never did a good man more splendidly redeem his
memory from shame。 Being permitted to address the people before
his execution；with the hope on the part of his tormentors that he
would publicly confirm his recantation；he first supplicated the
mercy and forgiveness of Almighty God； and concluded his speech
with these memorable words： 〃And now I come to the great thing that
troubleth my conscience more than anything I ever did or said； even
the setting forth of writings contrary to the truth； which I now
renounce and refuse；those things written with my own hand
contrary to the truth I thought in my heart； and writ for fear of
death and to save my life。 And forasmuch as my hand offended in
writing contrary to my heart； therefore my hand shall first be
punished； for if I come to the fire； it shall first be burned。 As
for the Pope； I denounce him as Christ's enemy and Antichrist； with
all his false doctrines。〃 Then he was carried away； and a great
multitude ran after him； exhorting him； while time was； to remember
himself。 〃Coming to the stake；〃 says the Catholic eye…witness；
〃with a cheerful countenance and willing mind； he took off his
garments in haste and stood upright in his shirt。 Fire being
applied； he stretched forth his right hand and thrust it into the
flame； before the fire came to any other part of his body； when his
hand was to be seen sensibly burning； he cried with a loud voice；
'This hand hath offended。〃'
Thus died Cranmer； in the sixty…seventh year of his age； after
presiding over the Church of England above twenty years； and having
bequeathed a legacy to his countrymen of which they continue to be
proud。 He had not the intrepidity of Latimer； he was supple to
Henry VIII。； he was weak in his recantation； he was not an original
genius；but he was a man of great breadth of views； conciliating
wise； temperate in reform； and discharged his great trust with
conscientious adherence to the truth as he understood it； the
friend of Calvin； and revered by the Protestant world。
Queen Mary reigned； fortunately； but five years； and the
persecutions she encouraged and indorsed proved the seed of a
higher morality and a loftier religious life。
〃For thus spake aged Latimer：
I tarry by the stake；
Not trusting in my own weak heart；
But for the Saviour's sake。
Why speak of life or death to me；
Whose days are but a span？
Our crown is yonder；Ridley； see！
Be strong and play the man！
God helping； such a torch this day
We'll light on English land；
That Rome； with all her cardinals；
Shall never quench the brand！〃
The triumphs of Gardiner and Bonner too were short。 Mary died with
a bruised heart and a crushed ambition。 On her death； and the
accession of her sister Elizabeth； exiles returned from Geneva and
Frankfort to advocate more radical changes in government and
doctrine。 Popular enthusiasm was kindled； never afterwards to be
repressed。
The great ideas of the Reformation began now to agitate the mind of
England；not so much the logical doctrines of Calvin as the
emancipating ideas of Luther。 The Renaissance had begun； and the
two movements were incorporated；the religious one of Germany and
the Pagan one of Italy； both favoring liberality of mind； a freer
style of literature； restless inquiries； enterprise； the revival of
learning and art； an intense spirit of progress； and disgust for
the Dark Ages and all the dogmas of scholasticism。 With this
spirit of progress and moderate Protestantism Elizabeth herself；
the best educated woman in England； warmly sympathized； as did also
the illustrious men she drew to her court； to whom she gave the
great offices of state。 I cannot call her age a religious one： it
was a merry one； cheerful； inquiring； untrammelled in thought； bold
in speculation； eloquent； honest； fervid； courageous； hostile to
the Papacy and all the bigots of Europe。 It was still rough；
coarse； sensual； when money was scarce and industries in their
infancy； and material civilization not very attractive。 But it was
a great age； glorious； intellectual； brilliant； with such statesmen
as Burleigh and Walsingham to head off treason and conspiracy； when
great poets arose； like Jonson and Spenser and Shakspeare； and
philosophers； like Bacon and Sir Thomas Browne； and lawyers； like
Nicholas Bacon and Coke； and elegant courtiers； like Sidney and
Raleigh and Essex； men of wit； men of enterprise； who would explore
distant seas and colonize new countries； yea； great preachers； like
Jeremy Taylor and Hall； and great theologians； like Hooker and
Chillingworth；giving polish and； dignity to an uncouth language；
and planting religious truth in the minds of men。
Elizabeth； with such a constellation around her； had no great
difficulty in re…establishing Protestantism and giving it a new
impetus； although she adhered to liturgies and pomps； and loved
processions and fetes and banquets and balls and expensive
dresses；a worldly woman； but progressive and enlightened。
In the religious reforms of that age you see the work of princes
and statesmen still； rather than any great insurrection of human
intelligence or any great religious revival； although the germs of
it were springing up through the popular preachers and the
influence of Genevan reformers。 Calvin's writings were potent； and
John Knox was on his way to Scotland。
I pass by rapidly the reforms of Elizabeth's reign； effected by the
Queen and her ministers and the convocation of Protestant bishops
and clergy and learned men in the universities。 Oxford and
Cambridge were then in their glory；crowded with poor students
from all parts of England； who came to study Greek and Latin and
read theology； not to ride horses and row boats； to put on
dandified airs and sneer at lectures； running away to London to
attend theatres and flirt with girls and drink champagne； beggaring
their fathers and ruining their own expectations and their health。
In a very short time after the accession of Elizabeth； which was
hailed generally as a very auspicious event； things were restored
to nearly the state in which they were left by Cranmer in the
preceding reign。 This was not done by direct authority of the
Queen； but by acts of Parliament。 Even Henry VIII。 ruled through
the Parliament； only it was his tool and instrument。 Elizabeth
consulted its wishes as the representation of the nation； for she
aimed to rule by the affections of her people。 But she recommended
the Parliament to conciliatory measures； to avoid extremes； to drop
offensive epithets； like 〃papist〃 and 〃heretic；〃 to go as far as
the wants of the nation required； and no farther。 Though a zealous
Protestant； she seemed to have no great animosities。 Her
particular aversion was Bonner；the violent； blood…thirsty；
narrow…minded Bis