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Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 8<br />

Cranmer--Cromwell--The<br />

Papal Supremacy Abolished<br />

THE Great Ruler br<strong>in</strong>gs forth men as he does<br />

<strong>the</strong> stars, each <strong>in</strong> his appo<strong>in</strong>ted time. We have just<br />

seen <strong>the</strong> bitterest, and certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>the</strong> most powerful<br />

enemy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Protestantism</strong> <strong>in</strong> all <strong>England</strong>, quit <strong>the</strong><br />

stage; two men, dest<strong>in</strong>ed to be em<strong>in</strong>ently<br />

<strong>in</strong>strumental <strong>in</strong> advanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Reformation, are about to step upon it.<br />

The k<strong>in</strong>g, on his way from Grafton to London,<br />

halted at Waltham, Essex, to enjoy <strong>the</strong> chase <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

neighbor<strong>in</strong>g forest. The court was too numerous to<br />

be all accommodated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> abbey, and two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

k<strong>in</strong>g's servants -- Gard<strong>in</strong>er his secretary, and Fox<br />

his almoner -- were enterta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> house <strong>of</strong> a<br />

citizen <strong>of</strong> Waltham, named Cressy. At <strong>the</strong> suppertable<br />

<strong>the</strong>y unexpectedly met a former acqua<strong>in</strong>tance,<br />

a Fellow <strong>of</strong> Jesus College, Cambridge. His name<br />

was Thomas Cranmer, and <strong>the</strong> plague hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

156

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